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At 40, the Willowbrook bloom is still on Four decades later, Fenwick nursery thrives BY JOHN CHICK
Special to the VOICE
Pelham institution Willowbrook Nurseries celebrated its 40th anniversary on Sept. 5 with a customer appreciation day. In addition to welcoming the community and its many outof-town customers, the landmark celebration was an opportunity for longtime employees to take a step back and appreciate just how far the operation has grown—from very humble beginnings. “I remember as a child we purchased a mobile home and put the mobile home on the property,” Chris Langendoen, son of founder and president John Langendoen told the Voice. “We lived in that for a number of years. My parents basically invested everything back into the business.” Chris was born in March 1979—two months before John and wife Jocelyn launched Willowbrook. His parents worked other jobs concurrently at first, including operating a lawnspray franchise. When the nursery became self-sustainable, it became their sole focus. It’s only continued to grow since. In the early 1980s, longtime staffers Jane Broere and Rob Bouwers came
Column Six
Dancing days done A good run, but writing is on the mirror BY JANE BEDARD
Special to the VOICE
I From left, Willowbrook Nurseries' V.P. Chris Langendoen, Mayor Marvin Junkin, Willowbrook Pres. John Langendoen. aboard. “They started with 10 acres of rented land and now have about 200 acres,” Broere said. “I think I was one of the first full-time employees, now we have over 200 employees, full and part-time, in season,” sales manager Bouwers added. John Langendoen’s goal all those years back was to build a full, container-grown nursery. As a wholesaler, it has succeeded beyond his wildest dreams, with clients all over North America. That includes trips around the continent
in search of planting products. John spent a chunk of this summer in Oregon. The success hasn’t come without challenges, however. “I remember we had an extreme windstorm where the entire roof of a polyhouse ripped off at 11 at night,” Bouwers recalled. “We knew we were going to get frost that night, there was a number of us scrambling in the dark to get the roof back on. In this industry we’re always battling nature, whether it’s too dry of a summer, or windstorms … to heavy
snow where the polyhouses are crushed. But we’ve got good, dedicated employees.” Chris added that being in the environment business comes with a commitment to that very environment. “The business we’re in, we take pride in the fact that we support our environment … we’re a green business, we’re growing a product to help sustain our future and we do things like partner with the Canadian Wildlife Federation,” he said. “We take a lot of pride in doing that.” Giving back is nothing
SUPPLIED PHOTO
new for Willowbrook. The nursery has been involved with the Town of Pelham significantly over the years, donating plantings for various renewal projects, including most recently in downtown Fenwick. Sadly, Jocelyn Langendoen passed away in 2009. Out of that loss, Willowbrook continues to donate regularly to the Canadian Cancer Society and to Rose City Kids, a Christian charity that provides Welland children with fellowship and instruction. See WILLOWBROOK Page 20
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CAN’T DANCE anymore. I’m not injured. I wish I could say that I was, that this was the reason—that I broke my ankle landing some sort of fancy jump at a club late last Saturday night. Or I was out with the girls at a bar, when a spontaneous twerking competition erupted out of nowhere, and I sprained my right glute. Nope. I think I’m just feeling…old. A few minutes ago, I was doing some cleaning with my headphones on, listening to the soundtrack from Mama Mia (which should have been my first clue that these were age- related symptoms) and found myself carrying a laundry basket past a full-length mirror. I did a double-take as I caught my reflection. Suddenly my hips startSee COLUMN SIX Page 17
Page 2
The Voice, September 11, 2019
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NRPS impaired driving charges
PUBLISHER’S CORNER
by Dave Burket
No Manhattan just yet: Pelham Town Council, with Councillor Lisa Haun at the wheel, did the right thing last week, and just said no, for a change, to a developer. At issue was whether a zoning variance would be granted, allowing four storeys, plus a fifth-story elevator shaft, to arise smack in the centre of downtown Fonthill. The current limit is three storeys. Citing concerns over parking, and a disruption to the fundamental nature of Fonthill’s village atmosphere, Haun led the charge against. Disappointingly, Town staff recommended the variance, possibly confusing “permitted” with “required.” Simply because the law allows for variances to be granted does not, by any stretch, mean that doing do is either required, or even wise. Let’s hope that when it comes to developers and their seemingly endless requests for special, or expedited, or fee-free treatment, that this council’s wisdom continues to grow...Between a rock and a hard plate: Rosemary Chambers alerts us to a new display at the Fenwick library, “Graniteware in History.” Not actually stone, of course, but that curiously speckled sort of cookware favoured by, among others, cowboys frying-up breakfast out on the range...Pass the earplugs: For those ready to rumble, the first of only two Friday the 13ths is this week, and Clare’s Cycle and Sports’ Thunder Run to Port Dover commences at 10 AM. At the destination, prepare yourself for both a "Pop Up Shop," and the alarmingly named “Hog Pin Shop,” which ideally will be pins for people and not for hogs. And now I’m hungry for bacon. (If that’s not enough Harley fun, next week also sees the annual Ride of the Flags, and Biketoberfest)... Batter-up: Things have been so hectic around here that we’ve neglected to mention our new sports page, The Niagara Sporting Green. Contributors Bernie Puchalski and Bill Potrecz, both longtime sportswriters, are providing the lion’s share of stories. Welcome, gents!...Your voices: There are some fine letters this week, and I’d particularly draw your attention to Phil Girard’s take on the Town’s draft cannabis-related bylaws (“Proposed cannabis regulations lacking clarity,” p. 7). And as much as no one likes a traffic light, Brendan Young (p. 5) makes a reasonable case for one. Worse than a light? Never being able to turn…Head pounding: Finally, and I’m sadly not exaggerating, I’ve been on a steady diet of two Advil and one Tylenol roughly every eight hours since last week’s paper hit the street. As you will see in this issue, nearly 20 more women have come forward with accounts related to Dr. Charles Duncan. Ten representative stories appear on pages 12 and 13. Hearing these stories hasn’t been easy, and reading them isn’t either. One voice missing is Duncan’s. We hope to hear it soon, and wish to give him every opportunity to speak...Isn’t 70 the new 50? Looking for free BBQ and a cash bar this Saturday? The Fenwick Lions are celebrating their 70th (ad, p. 14). Get the hog pins ready. ♦
Fire Chief Bob Lymburner, right, and Fire Prevention Officer Jason Longhurst.
SUPPLIED PHOTO
New fire radio system already paying o≠ a decision to make before the end of the calendar year. We all ran on getting the Town’s finances healthy, and here we were about to spend $300,000 right out of the gate. But it really was a no-brainer when you think about the enhanced safety and quality of communications this radio systems gives our guys.” The new system is versatile, operating in multiple zones and on specific tactical channels, enhancing coverage to 100 percent. This in comparison to the previous analog system operating on a low frequency, routinely dropping calls, and offering sporadic service. The mid-August fire was the first major operation in which the new system was truly tested, after being installed in March.
BY VOICE STAFF Deployed in its full capacity during the fire at Pioneer Flower Farms in St. Catharines in mid-August, the Town’s fire department— with five vehicles, 12 men, and on scene for 16 hours — operated under calmer and safer circumstances with their new P25 700 MHz high-band radio system. The digital operation, replacing an antiquated analog system that was shared among three other departments, was given the green light based on Pelham Town Council’s understanding and emphasis on safety for the 91 volunteers of the fire department, despite what at first glance seemed like a significant financial output. “This was one of council’s first major decisions,” said Mayor Marvin Junkin. “Council had just been sworn in and we had
Voice
See RADIOS Page 16
The Niagara Regional Police Service is committed to reducing impaired driving offences through education and the apprehension of offenders through enforcement programs like RIDE. Impaired driving is still the leading cause of criminal deaths in Canada and destroys thousands of lives every year.
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Oops: No fire trucks for you Haist Street traffic-calming measure a little too effective BY VOICE STAFF
In an effort to bring further attention and deterrence to driving while impaired by alcohol or drugs, the Niagara Regional Police Service reports the names of those people who are charged with an alleged criminal impaired driving offence in the Region. None of the following charges have been proved in court. In addition to being charged, these individuals are also bound by a Ministry of Transportation 90Day Administrative Driver’s License Suspension and are prohibited from operating a motor vehicle on a roadway. The public is encouraged to contact the Niagara Regional Police Service Traffic Safety Hotline or Crime Stoppers to report those who are driving in contravention of the suspension. The following individuals have been charged criminally with impaired driving by alcohol or drugs, driving with a blood alcohol concentration above 80 mgs of alcohol in 100 ml of blood, or refusing to provide a breath / blood sample. Christopher S. WRIGHT, 28, Kenmore NY Justin JOLLY, 22, Hamilton Michael V. MACNEIL, 49, Welland Kyle M. PAINE, 22, St. Catharines Todd D. BLAIR, 53, Niagara Falls James M. BEAUPRE, 25, Niagara Falls Teresa A. SOYTAROGLU, 50, St. Catharines Shannon R. SCHWAB, 50, Fort Erie Ryan A. MCCONNELL, 35, Fort Erie Lee J. B. KRAWTCHUK, 31, Oshawa Karen F. DAY, 65, West Lincoln Satoru OGAWA, 52, St. Catharines Trevor J. CHAYTOR, 37, Pelham Alexander KARNER, 56, St. Catharines Iain R. MCDONALD, 44, Beamsville Susan L. ROSS, 62, Niagara Falls James D. FERNICK, 24, Grimsby Gabriel GOMEZ VELA, 26, Oakville Korry K. S. CAMPBELL, 30, St. Catharines Jacquelyn S. FRANKOWIAK, 29, St. Catharines
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The Conversation
Why victims of sexual crimes (still) rarely come forward, and why we (still) don't want to believe them when they do We don't like our world turned upside down, says psychology Professor Kathryn Belicki, especially when it comes to people we're meant to trust BY DAVE BURKET
The VOICE
F
OLLOWING PUBLICATION LAST WEEK OF THE news that Dr. Charles Duncan, a longtime family medicine practitioner in Fonthill, was resigning from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO), and agreeing not to apply again to practice medicine anywhere in Canada, reader reaction was swift. Within 24 hours of being posted online, the story had garnered 10,000 hits on the Voice website, with dozens of readers commenting there and on social media. A large majority of reader reaction online was supportive of “Jane Smith” and the ordeal she described during her time employed in Duncan's practice. We also carry this week a selection of comments from Duncan's former patients, who recount similar experiences and feelings of unease. Some readers, however, seemed to question whether a doctor whom they respected could really be capable of, in this case, sexual assault. (The Voice does not know the nature of the complaint that started the CPSO investigation. Smith’s involvement was in support of that investigation, not the cause of it.) A letter to the editor this week refers to Duncan as a “quality individual,” and the target of a “smear.” We asked Brock Professor of Psychology Kathryn Belicki to comment on how we react to revelations of sexual misconduct. The following telephone interview has been edited for clarity and brevity. BURKET: What made us want to reach out to someone who might know about these things is that a couple of the reader reactions have been, "Well, he's treated me fine and my family fine for X number of years or decades. So, I basically don't believe this kind of thing." This must be something that stops anyone, women or men, from coming forward. Can you talk a little bit about that? BELICKI: You've just hit the first nail right on the head, and that’s this fear of repercussion. There's fear of not being believed. A lot of my research has actually been with people who have histories of child abuse. And if they've been abused as a child, then they can grow up to be wounded people. And then when they have an accusation against somebody who looks so good in the eyes of the world, they become even more at risk to be the person not believed.
I think part of the thing that we need to societally struggle with is we have this demonic conception of people who do sexually abusive acts. As a result, when the offender is someone we care about or someone we respect, we can't wrap our head around the fact that they would do this— because don’t only awful, horrible people do such things? Even if we do then wrap our head around it, we don't want the world to know, because we're afraid of how they'll be treated. That's something else that can go on with people being reluctant to disclose. Usually, in the first instance, they're just very concerned about how they'll be seen and that they'll be discredited. But sometimes they're also concerned about the offender, because if they know this person well and there are other things about them that they like and admire, then they're concerned about the backlash that's going to come down on their head. We as a society need to start coming to grips with the fact that people who have quite admirable characteristics still do awful things. So it's possible to be both—in this case, an otherwise presumably good doctor, and someone whose sexual desires are outside the norm. Yep, absolutely. The evidence has been there. We just haven't wanted to take it in. When I did my graduate training, for example, it was thought that child abuse was extremely rare. I literally started from a time when the world thought these things really didn't happen very much at all. And then in the ‘80s and ‘90s there was this societal upheaval, where we finally came to acknowledge that, no, it is much more common than we'd realized. But we haven't gone that next final step to realize, "Well, if there's a lot of folks who have been abused, then that means there's lot of people doing the abuse." I think the next upheaval we need to go through is to take in the fact
Prof. Kathryn Belicki. SUPPLIED PHOTO
that people we like and respect do this stuff. And that's very hard. When did you start your grad work? I started in 1976. So I studied between 1976 and 1984 and there were no courses on child abuse. I studied in what was considered one of the best programs in Canada. I don't actually even remember being assigned a single article on the topic. The belief at the time was that maybe one in every one or two million people had been sexually abused. In North America? Yeah, period. It was just seen as extremely rare and not something we needed much to teach people about because it was so rare. Now we've forgotten that this was what people believed. There was huge professional resistance. I woke up to it early because I had a couple of remarkable experiences that made me awaken to the fact that sexual abuse and sexual assault were much more common than people were realizing. In a therapy group of women, one suddenly broke down and said she had sexual relations with her father. And my jaw is inwardly dropping. I never expected to hear this. Then suddenly another says, "Oh, honey. It's okay. I went through it too. You'll be fine." And a third says, "Yeah, it was my uncle. What an asshole." And I'm over there going, "What's going on here?" But it was just so beyond my ken. My supervisor didn't know what to make of it. I didn't know what to make of it. Then I had a remarkable student cross my doorstep. She wanted to study, for her honors thesis, sexual abuse. And I said, "Whoa, that is too big a topic to take on. First of all, how would we find a sample?" And she said, "Well, isn't it like one in four?" And I went, "Where did you get those numbers?" She brought in some articles I'd never seen. Didn't know they existed. People weren't reading them. They were out there, but we weren't reading them. So I said, "Well,
look. They must be defining sexual abuse really way too loosely." And sure enough, many were defining it as unwanted sexual activity. So we did a little survey for her thesis, of 20 people. We used a very restrictive definition. You had to have had sexual contact with someone when you were preadolescent by someone who was at least five years older. That's a very narrow, conservative definition. Twenty people, five said yes. And my world just shook. These were undergrads? These were undergrads at York. So that's the other thing. These were undergrads. They were in their fourth year. So they're successful students and it was anonymous. That was when I was just like, "Oh my god. How many people have I seen in therapy who've had this experience and I didn't know it?" I started studying this, and studying the impacts of these kinds of experiences on people as adults. And then suddenly Oprah Winfrey goes for it. And there was this...groundswell, not from the profession. From on the ground. People saying, "Yeah, this has happened to me." It's a version of Me Too back then. And the reaction of the profession was to just disbelieve it all. I remember I had so many colleagues saying to me, "Oh, these are people just jumping on the Oprah Winfrey bandwagon." Essentially saying, "Look, they're lying." Right. So, again, you circle around, of course people don't want to confess this because that's what they're afraid they're going to get hit with. You're just lying or, in this [Duncan] case, you're a young woman. I'm so impressed that she told her family right away, and that she went to the police. The courage that this took for her to do—that is remarkable. And her mother was perceptive. She knew what could happen, people just saying, "Look, you're young woman. You're trying to maybe get something from this well established man." Like the number of things that could have come at her. Her mother warned her. The other thing that goes on— we tend to blame ourselves when we experience trauma. If somebody is in a bad car accident, they'll say things like, "Well, if I'd turned right at that intersection instead of left," or "If I'd left earlier or later." I mean it's almost crazy to hear, but it's so common following any deeply upsetting event, for people to somehow blame themselves. What we think is going on there is that we want our world to be controllable. We don't want to think that horrible things can happen to good people without any cause. So if we can blame ourselves, then the world becomes more controllable. “Well,
gee, if I just work harder at being a good person, I can maybe prevent these things from happening.” Manage the karma. Then you go to sexual assault and abuse and often—as there was in this case—there's a bit of a lead in. First of all, a hand on the shoulder and then massaging the shoulders. You're a polite person. You may find that a little creepy, but you don't want embarrass him, so you just... She talked about just moving away rather than saying anything. And then when suddenly it does become inappropriate, you're going, "Oh my God, did I give him the wrong impression? I should've said something." When others say, "Oh, well, maybe you were just seductive," this feeds that. So victims go silent, because they're partly blaming themselves or sometimes largely themselves for what happened. That's another reason why they don't report. Where did you do your grad work? At The University of Waterloo. Clinical psychology. And when you refer to people in your profession, I take it “psychology” is the overarching term for the profession? For me, psychology, but we were seeing real pushback also from medicine and psychiatry. The healthcare professionals generally just were slow to accept. I mean, you could imagine. People who've had their whole careers perhaps studying or gaining expertise in the area, or they've seen hundreds or thousands of people to treat them, and it's never occurred to them that maybe the reason why this person is troubled is because they've been abused as a child. Then suddenly you get information saying that this is a big and frequent trauma. It goes against all your prior thinking, but it also shakes you up in terms of your own practice, and it's kind of natural that in the first instance you're going to just go, "I don't believe this." Around what year do you think that changed? The ‘80s and the early ‘90s was when it started to change. Then we had the whole controversy around false memory. Can we trust people's memories? Elizabeth Loftus. Yes. She became the professional face of that. Claims that people were just lying wasn’t working so well, because there's too many people saying this had happened to them. Then the next pushback came in the form of, “Oh, there's an epidemic of false memory here, so we still don't have to believe these accounts.”And eventually we got to a saner place, where we came to recognize that, no, it really happened. A lot of people have
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OPINION
The opinions expressed in submitted commentary and letters to the editor are those of the contributors and not necessarily those of the Voice of Pelham.
The Voice of Pelham is a 1211858 Ontario Limited publication David Burket, Publisher 2-1428 Pelham St., P.O. Box 1489, Fonthill, ON L0S1E0
As We See It What does it take for the Niagara Police to act?
In the face of multiple reports of sexual misconduct, will the NRPS launch an investigation? The answer is no.
E
VER WONDER WHY YOU’RE NOT seeing Pelham crime reports in the Voice these days? We wonder the same thing. Until the end of 2018, a nice fellow at the Police Service’s Welland detachment provided such updates to the paper each week. His departure also saw the departure of even this minimal level of information voluntarily provided by the Niagara Regional Police Service. Since then, obtaining answers to questions has often been like pulling those proverbial teeth. Take this simple question: If a number of women come into a police station, over a course of decades, reporting the same individual for committing approximately the same acts of sexual assault, will the police ever, at any point, undertake their own investigation of the perpetrator? It took multiple, increasingly pointed tries by the Voice to get an answer from the NRPS’s media relations department—a department, incidentally, that’s costing the taxpayers an estimated $200,000 per year, and whose recent energies seem increasingly dedicated to social media, to posting self-congratulatory, brand-awareness-building Tweets, at all hours of the day. Finally, after initially evasive responses, three days after the question was first asked the answer arrived: No. No matter how many victims show up, and apparently no matter how heinous the act, if each victim says that they don’t want
to press charges, for whatever reason (see some of those reasons explained this week by a psychology professor, page 3), then the police won’t act. That’s the end of it. Nothing we can do. Next. “Generally speaking if a member of the public files a report alleging sexual assault and they want no further action, no charges, no court, no police contact with the suspect, we must respect that,” eventually replied a media relations spokesperson. “We do not force court on victims of sexual assault. We do not re-victimize them. It is not best practice on how to support victims. Conducting an overt investigation against the wishes of a victim / complainant also can place that victim in jeopardy, as the suspect could be able to deduce who contacted the police and they could then be in peril.” All that sounds reasonable enough. But it’s not enough. (And of course no one want to “re-victimize” assault victims, for goodness sake.) Either policies need to change, or the law needs to change. Here's an idea, how about covert investigations? The alternative is the status quo, and the status quo has allowed priests, sports coaches, scout leaders, and yes, medical professionals, to assault people with impunity, until, sometimes only decades later, one brave victim steps forward, with luck triggering a cascade of others, to seek justice. Surely there's a better way. ♦
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Letters Dr. Charles Duncan a "quality individual" In response to your salacious report of Dr. Charles Duncan’s resignation [In face of sexual assault allegations, Fonthill doctor quits, Sept. 4, p. 3], I have to state that you have done your best to magnify what I am sure the majority of his patients would say is a very unfortunate situation and perhaps even an unfair characterization of a person who is not only a competent physician, but also a quality individual. Dr. Duncan has been our family physician for some 40-plus years and his care and conduct has been exemplary. Indeed, his attention to detail provided a very early diag-
nosis to my late wife’s condition, allowing her to enjoy a significant number of extra years of good health and an active lifestyle that may not have been the case had the indications been missed. I have always felt lucky to have the quality of care he has provided for all of us, including my children. There are always two sides to every story, and I am distressed that the National Enquirer—oops, the Voice— has chosen to publish only part of the story down to the most lurid details. All professionals See QUALITY next page
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Dean Allison, MP 4994 King Street Beamsville, ON L0R 1B0 Dean.Allison@parl.gc.ca 877-563-7900
Ward 1 Councillor Mike Ciolfi mciolfi@pelham.ca 905-892-0077
Sam Oosterhoff, MPP 4961 King St. East, Unit M1 Beamsville, ON L0R 1B0 sam.oosterhoffco@pc.ola.org 905-563-1755
Councillor Marianne Stewart mstewart@pelham.ca 289-821-0840
Members of Niagara Regional Council Councillor Marvin Junkin mjunkin@pelham.ca 289-929-2681 Councillor Diana Huson diana.huson@niagararegion.ca 905-324-3094 Town of Pelham 20 Pelham Town Square P.O. Box 400 Fonthill, ON L0S 1E0 905-892-2607
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The Voice, September 11, 2019
Page 5
OPINION A reporter remembers: Pelser story that couldn't be told
Pelham Street needs another tra�c light
I was relieved, at last, to read of the full story of Dr. Duane Pelser in the pages of last week’s Voice [Pelham sees abrupt departure of second family doctor in as many years, Sept. 4, p. 3]. I was reporting for the paper in the fall of 2017, when Pelser’s license suspension first came to the fore. Several patients of his, distressed at what they believed to be his unjust punishment, arranged for me to meet with him in one of their homes. I spoke with Pelser for an hour or so, during which he gave an elaborate account of his suspended license, attributing it to an oversight while he opened a new practise in Fonthill. He accused his former practise of failing to forward mail relating to this issue and said that he had been the victim of identity theft, which led him to change email and mailing addresses. “It’s unbelievable,” I recall him declaring, over and over. Having no reason to doubt this tale, I attempted to speak to Pelser’s former colleagues, who refused to comment, and to the Ontario College of Physicians, who were likewise profoundly unhelpful in bringing clarity to the situation. The initial reporting on Pelser’s situation was, then, based entirely on his words and those of his patients, who were justifiably outraged at being without a doctor for what they understood to be unsubstantial reasons.
How many of us are fed up with turning left onto Pelham Street from Pancake Lane or Spruceside Crescent? It is annoying to turn left at the stop sign at Spruceside and Pelham Street during the day. To add further irritation, there is usually another car across the street at Bacon Lane, trying to turn right. I have had to change my mind and turn right at the intersection because of the never-ending traffic. Pelham needs another traffic light on Pelham Street. I feel if one traffic light is placed either at Pancake Lane or Spruceside Crescent, then congestion will ease. Turning left at either intersection will thus be possible outside of the evening hours. So far, the Town delays addressing this critical issue. How long will it take for fellow citizens to come together in frustration? If the Town wants to save money, they could build two
QUALITY
continued from previous page are governed by the Regulated Health Professions Act, especially males, and are subject to a rigid code of behaviour, lest they sully their normally “honourable” profession. However, as humans and just regular people, sometimes they make mistakes. There is a line that should never be crossed and it is sad that so many years of dedicated service have to end like this—but there is no need to smear his career in its waning years. The rest of his patients are essentially left out in the cold when October 31 arrives, and, with many of them being seniors, this will create a lot of anxiety. Barry Ray Fonthill
Then, in the following weeks, multiple former romantic partners of Pelser contacted the newspaper, alleging that the actual reasons for his suspended license had nothing to do with late payment. They said, just as the College later found, that Pelser had been abusing drugs acquired improperly, and that his professional performance had been deeply unsatisfactory. They also said that he had subjected them to physical and emotional abuse. They maintained that they were too frightened of Pelser to go on the record about his conduct, even without being named. The newspaper was frozen in an unfortunate position: knowing that Pelser’s present story was untrue, but unable to provide the real version. Last week’s reporting was a release from this position. As alarming as it is to know that Pelser, who was seemingly beloved by many patients, was capable of such lies to patients and the paper alike—much less commit the actions which required such untruthfulness—it is equally arresting to consider that another doctor whose conduct has come into serious question was practising just steps from him in the same building. “Unbelievable” indeed. There are surely other stories, about other abuses, out there. May the revelations continue. Samuel Piccolo South Bend, IN
Editor’s note: The Voice printed the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario’s publicly available information regarding its investigation into Duncan, its spokesperson’s comments, as well first-person testimony by the target of Duncan’s alleged assaults. Duncan was afforded every opportunity, in advance of publication, to comment on the CPSO’s investigation and outcome, and on his former employee Jane Smith’s specific allegations. For reasons unknown, he chose not to, nor did he reply to further requests for comment on the statements made by ten additional women— this time patients—presented in this week’s paper. If there is another “side” that will help readers understand Charles Duncan’s alleged behaviour, we continue to welcome his comment and explanation.
Additionally, contrary to the letter writer’s assertion, we were unable to find any indication in the Regulated
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all-way stops instead. At least this will improve traffic flow. I don’t recommend this path and would still prefer one traffic light put in at either intersection. In Welland, at the intersection of Quaker Road and Line Avenue there is an all-way stop. This used to be a two-way stop. An allway stop was put in due to multiple accidents. Driv-
ers wouldn’t always yield the right of way at that intersection next to Country Corner Meats. I ask you now, how many of us want a traffic light installed on Pelham Street? I think the time has come for the Town to listen to the people. Brendan Young Fonthill
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Page 6
Letters
The Voice, September 11, 2019
www.thevoiceofpelham.ca
continued
Thanks to Soccerfest sponsors
Another try at Trudeau and SNC-Lavalin
Gypsy moth restitution
On Saturday, August 24, Pelham Soccer Club held its 10th Annual Soccerfest at Glynn A. Green School. On behalf of the Pelham Soccer Club, I want to thank everyone who participated and helped to make Soccerfest 2019 a huge success. Thank you to the Royal Bank for their sponsorship of this event, and for providing players with reusable water bottles. Thank you to Circle K for their sponsorship help and for contributing give-away soccer balls and t-shirts. Thank you to Fonthill Giant Tiger for all their donations: the BBQ was a gastronomical best. Thanks to the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 613 Fonthill, for supplying the ice to many delighted snowcone recipients. Thank you to Fonthill Sobeys for providing water: no one dehydrated! We are grateful to everyone who volunteered their time and energy so that this day could take place. After the cancellation of Soccerfest earlier in the season (due to the amount of rain and soccer field conditions) the day was an immense success, and the weather perfect. We hope that all of Pelham's young soccer players, parents and coaches had a fantastic time, celebrating another awesome season of soccer. Susan Jeffery Pelham Soccer Club Executive Committee
My thanks go out to Bill McLeod, of Welland, for his response [“Webster’s and Trudeau’s use of English,” Sept. 4, p. 5] to my earlier opinion in the Voice regarding the SNC-Lavalin affair. I was hoping to be enlightened, I was not. My sole objective when I write is to try to see positive outcomes, so I will try one more time to explain my reasoning. Regarding this matter I still find Trudeau's reasoning to be credible. To begin with, I do not speak for the Liberals, nor any other party for that matter. I am not a lawyer, however I have held several senior jobs in the pharmaceutical industry prior to my retirement. I see good and not so good policies from the various governments of the day and therefore I vote as an independent. When I wrote my original letter, I used the Oxford dictionary that defines violate as “to disregard.” Perhaps better words such as “tampered” or “interfered” might have been more appropriate, and therefore Oxford and I apologize. Not that it makes any difference, but I voted NDP, for the first time, in the last provincial election. I can't comment on the Bill Blair mention, as I don't see where he fits into
In 2015 I began calling the Town to let them know the gypsy moths were back and to find out what they were going to do about it. I followed up with them in 2016 and sent numerous emails well into 2017. The initial response from the Town was they don’t handle gypsy moths, and that I should call the Niagara Region. The Region of course redirected me back to the Town, who again said it was not their problem and that I should call the Ministry of Natural Resources. I couldn’t help but think how reminiscent this was of calling the cable company, only to be greeted with, “Who’s on First,” or opening a good, “Finding Waldo” book. Of course, all of this was curious, as in 2008 the Town passed a motion to develop an ongoing gypsy moth program. In early 2019, I contacted the Mayor and councillors to express my support for spraying the gypsy moths. In April, prior to the spray, I notified them again, concerned about the inaction by the Town and the cost of the spray program. The Mayor responded, telling me in part that, “This council cannot be responsible
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this equation. The Deferred Prosecution Agreement (D.P.A), although introduced by the Liberals in 2018, is a valuable tool that has been in existence in other democratic countries for several years. Why do I say valuable? The DPA makes sense to me as the wrongdoing by SNC-Lavalin executives goes back to 2001, so why would one want to punish the existing employees. I would think that the bad folks that committed fraud and took bribes have long departed the present company. I suspect that the DPA was put in place to prevent harm to innocent employees and pensioners. I think future governments will want to keep this mechanism in place to deal with similar affairs in the future (let's hope not). I will repeat what I said in my first letter. In Wilson-Rayould's own words she said, “nothing illegal happened.” I will predict that if and when she wins her seat as an independent, she will support the majority of Liberal policies, presuming they are re-elected. The big question is, “Where will this affair end up,” some 18 years later. Art Woodruff Fonthill
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Letters
The Voice, September 11, 2019
Page 7
continued
Proposed cannabis regulations lacking clarity On August 20, 2019, the Town of Pelham posted an Official Plan amendment and a series of cannabis-related bylaws. By the Town’s admission, the bylaws are designed to “better manage and control cannabis production facilities in the Town and... to address adverse impacts of cannabis production….” As a professional engineer with 30 years of environmental consulting experience, it is my opinion that the bylaws as drafted will not protect residents. While the Official Plan amendment and the various odour / nuisance / cannabis bylaws are intended to help control nuisance odour and light impacts from cannabis operations, they inadequately define the standards or objectives needed to protect residents and other sensitive receptors. A sensitive receptor is
MOTHS
continued from previous page for actions/no actions taken by previous councils.” The Mayor went on to say that, “Honestly, I do not see the Town changing our payment policy.” I replied, saying that the Town most certainly was responsible for dealing with their newfound inheritance, warts and all. I sent additional emails to the Town to query: ●Why there was no RFP
commonly defined as a house, residence, hotel/motel, school, daycare, campground, park, nursing home, church, community centre, hospital, etc., however the Town’s definitions vary within the bylaws and should be standardized, since some sensitive uses are absent. Since my expertise is in environmental odour impact, I will primarily address the odour aspects of the bylaws. Provided below are a few examples that highlight that more work is needed before the bylaws can be adopted. The Official Plan amendment states that greenhouses for cannabis production will be required to ensure compatibility with neighbouring land uses through a) the installation and operation of odour and light mitigation systems; b) odour and light control, maintenance and monitoring plans; and
(Request for Proposal) / Public Tender for the spray program. ●Why the charge peracre was near double that of what other municipalities were paying using the same contractor, and what the Town had quoted residents in 2018 if they wanted to get sprayed. ●Why the Town was charging me more than double based on my lot size. ●Why was the Town incurring costs for spraying by adopting a criteria / threshold for spraying
c) maintaining appropriate setbacks from sensitive receptors as detailed in the Zoning By-law. Unfortunately, none of these measures (as drafted) ensure compatibility with neighbouring land uses, because there are no standards or goals to meet. As an example, and as many of you have experienced, some cannabis facilities have odour and light mitigation systems that permit the escape of unacceptable quantities of odour and light. Consequently, in these cases, the installed mitigation systems fail at providing the intended protection that residents deserve. Similarly, without defining the minimum standards that must be met, or consequences of high odour results, having an odour monitoring plan provides no protection for residents. Lastly, a seemingly arbitrary
(gypsy moth egg masses per hectare) that was five times lower than that of other municipalities. I have received no answers, however I did receive an invoice for the 2019 spray. There are many Town of Pelham residents upset with the spray. In fact, the mismanagement of the spray program has been going on since 1990. One resident, Frank Feeley, has compiled a very detailed white paper chronicling the gypsy moth spray in Pelham from 1990
It is my opinion that the bylaws as drafted will not protect residents
setback of 150 metres, or the distance proposed by an odour study that has no defined standards, provides no reassurances either. Experience has shown us that odour can migrate many kilometers, and residences within these distances would not be protected by such small setback provisions. To this point, the Ministry of Envi-
to date. It’s a methodical look at what has transpired over the years. It identifies numerous problems with the spray and recommends next steps the Town should embark on. It’s a mustread for those affected by the 2019 spray, those that felt they should have been sprayed but weren’t, and, truthfully, everyone in the Town of Pelham, as you could be next! The current mantra from the Town is that they are not going to do anything about 2019, which saddled
See LACKING Page 14
a select 294 residents with the onerous and inequitable spray costs. They are, however, going to hold a public meeting on gypsy moths, tentatively slated for October 23, at 6:30 PM, at the community centre, to garner public input on spray programs moving forward. I would encourage everyone to attend this meeting to voice their concerns. The Town has acknowledged that they have received numerous complaints, so here is your opportunity to be heard.
nthill o F P e
ia
Simply put, it’s my view that the Town must first fix the past, to heal the open wounds, before it can move forward. History repeats itself —residents have been told before, “Don’t worry, we’ll fix it,” only to find out later something different. To download a copy of, “White Paper — Coping With the Gypsy Moth Invasion in Pelham,” prepared by Town of Pelham resident Frank Feeley, go to: http:// bit.ly/gypsymothpdf Graham Ashdown Fonthill
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ronment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) has a series of land use planning guides, and, while not legally binding, they are intended to provide guidance to planning authorities, including municipalities, so they can make informed decisions. The guides are designed to protect residences from industrial encroachment, and vice versa. Using these planning guidelines, and making reasonable assumptions of the frequency, character and history of complaints, a cannabis production facility would likely require a minimum setback of 300 metres from a sensitive receptor, measured from property line to property line, not building to building. While 300 metres is considerably larger, the MECP acknowledges (and experience has
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The Voice, September 11, 2019
www.thevoiceofpelham.ca
TOWN COUNCIL NEWS
Growing pains dominate
This would significantly alter the appearance of downtown
Policy and Priorities Committee deals with developers BY JOHN CHICK
Special to the VOICE
Fonthill doesn’t do big and tall. That was the message at the September 3 Policy and Priorities Meeting of Pelham Town Council, with members voting down a development proposal to convert the existing office building at 1440 Pelham Street —facing Pelham Town Square, the site of the former (and future) arches — to a five-storey, mixed use complex. The current building is two storeys tall, and contains a pub and dentist’s office on the main floor, and a gym on the second. The redevelopment proposal by owner Richard Taylor, a retired chiropractor, and Colonnade 1440 Inc., was not based on a teardown and the rebuilding of a new structure. Instead, the plans called for a new addition to be built atop the existing structure, and included 12 residential units. “This would significantly alter the appearance of downtown,” said Councillor Lisa Haun, one of four to vote against the re-zoning plan. The area is currently zoned for buildings up to three floors only. New developments across Pelham Street count up to four storeys from the back, because they are built on the eastward slope into Town Square. The redevelopment propos-
al called for four floors of usable space and a fifth partial level reserved for an elevator penthouse. One of the sticking points with council appeared to be parking. Fifty-one spaces at the rear of the development were included in the plan, a number that Haun didn’t feel was adequate given the increased density. When Director of Community Planning and Development Barb Wiens suggested that the nearby Market Square municipal lot and street parking could handle any overflow, Haun objected. “The only thing with using a municipal parking lot to offset parking shortage is it’s not fair to taxpayers first of all, and second of all, if we have events like Summerfest or the market, or any of the other functions that might tie up the lot, then where do people park?” she asked. Traffic on the particular stretch of Pelham Street in front of the building can be busy at times, making both parking and turning to and from Town Square hazardous. Proposals for a traffic signal have been floated over the years. Still, not all councillors were against the development proposal. Ward 3’s Bob Hildebrandt supported it, as it concentrated densification efforts downtown.
Three it is. Pelham Town Council turned down a developer's bid to add an additional two storeys to this Fonthill building. VOICE PHOTO
“If I’m going to vote for [density] intensification anywhere, I’m going to vote for intensification downtown,” he said, citing larger cities and the design of old-world European communities. Still on the topic of development, tempers flared in committee again over modern, progressive design sensibilities versus the sprawl-based approach of recent generations. Specifically, the draft plan for Phase 3 of the Saffron Meadows development off Port Robinson Road elicited debate over the ever-shrinking size of front yards in newer homes —and the fact that the Town would need to
amend its zoning bylaw in order to appease the developer’s plans for smaller frontage. Fed-up with hearing pushback to the request, Mayor Marvin Junkin raised his voice in defense of more sustainable developments. “It just boggles my mind how people … know better than provincial planning policy, they know better than society, that is saying we’ve had enough urban sprawl, we’re using up too much farmland,” the Mayor said. “But no, this council knows better. It blows me away that this council knows better about intensification than public and provincial policy and
planners from the Region and what have you, but no, Pelham has got to have bigger yards so that in 10 to 15 years we can expand our urban boundaries more and eat up more farmland.” Ward 2 Councillor Ron Kore appeared to take the commentary as directed at him. “As a councilor I don’t know more than anybody else, but I know what my citizens are asking, and that’s the way I vote,” he said. “It wasn’t a personal attack” Junkin exclaimed, before Councillor Mike Ciolfi, chairing the Committee, interjected to restore order. One aspect of the issue is that Pelham’s zoning bylaw was last updated in 1987. “Our zoning bylaw is out of date,” Wiens said prior to the exchange, citing the near-universal shift to higher population density and smaller properties. CAO David Cribbs pointed out part of the reason for this is that Pelham lacks a policy specialist that most other communities have. See COUNCIL Page 11
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*
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The Voice, September 11, 2019
www.thevoiceofpelham.ca
A TRIO OF BUGS, LIVE MUSIC, AND NO SHORTAGE OF CLASSICS The weather held on Saturday, the fragrance of benzene and burgers wafting in the brisk air at the Fenwick Lions' Third Annual Classic Car Show and Draw. Lions Second VP Steve Schilstra said that a good 2000 visitors turned out to see some 300 show entrants. Exact numbers weren't known by Sunday, but Schilstra said that at least $60,000 was raised for various causes, including Dog Guides. The main attraction, a 1971 Chevy Malibu, valued at $28,000, was won by a Hamilton resident, who got the good news when Lion Bert Marissen reached him by phone, to the delight of the crowd, which initially groaned at yet another out-of-town winner—a seeming tradition for the draw. Top right, Regional Councillor Diana Huson with Lion Herb Lodde. Right, Ward 1 Councillor Mike Ciolfi, in black, with Scott Reece and Todd Farion. BOB LOBLAW PHOTOS
Dean Allison Member of Parliament for Niagara West Shadow Minister for International Trade Diversification
“Thank you for your continued support and confidence. I am honoured to serve as your representative in Ottawa.”
Dean
Contact Dean’s constituency office for inquiries and assistance with: Federal government programs such as CPP, OAS, GIS, Revenue Canada, Employment Insurance, Veterans Affairs, Federal legislation or regulations.
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www.thevoiceofpelham.ca
The Voice, September 11, 2019
Page 11
Local woman tops at World Senior Racquetball Championships
I perfected my serves, and they really are bullets
Nichols-Dickinson continues to marvel in comeback from injury BY JOHN CHICK
Special to the VOICE
Catherine Nichols-Dickinson has her championship. Two years after almost winning her division at the World Senior Racquetball Championships, the Ridgeville resident returned to Albuquerque, NM this month and wrapped up unfinished business, running the table and taking home the title in 55-plus category at the annual event, with a dominating performance. “I really still can’t register this year, I played 21 games [total], six games a day, and nobody beat me,” Nichols-Dickinson told the Voice last week. “Unreal. It’s like, six games a day is a lot. They don’t even play that in the women’s pros.” One racquetball match consists of three games. In the end, she
COUNCIL
finished a division-best 7-0, but it was the scores of the individual games that raised eyebrows. She won six by a perfect 11-0 score, defeating Texan Susan Ivanhoe 11-0, 11-3, 11-0 in her round-robin final. “Some of the scores,” the 57-year-old Nichols-Dickinson said, “I’m still trying to register it.” You can forgive her incredulity. While she finished second at the same event in 2017, her journey is dramatic considering that the previous year a severe foot injury knocked her out of the tournament. That was serious enough, before considering some of the other physical joys of being an active athlete in one’s later years. “The left knee is a partial replacement and the right knee is
“It’ll cost us $20 or $30 thousand dollars and we will lose,” he said. Haun’s amendment was subsequently defeated. Committee then voted to accept the report.
continued from Page 8 “This is the first municipality, even of this size, that I’ve ever heard of, that doesn’t have a policy planner on staff,” Cribbs said, before making an offbeat analogy. “It’s actually the length of a life sentence. If you killed someone [in 1987] you’d have been out of jail by now, and we still don’t have a new zoning bylaw in that time.” Still, Haun tabled an amendment that would require the Saffron Meadows developer to maintain a minimum front yard size. Knowing the developer would balk and appeal any thrown monkey wrenches to higher provincial authorities, Junkin said the idea was pointless.
Tripling Town Hall’s flagpoles
The Policy and Priorities Committee voted to accept a clerk’s report that would see the Town adopt a flag policy for outside Town Hall— along with the $6,000 cost of adding two more flagpoles. The report appeared to be borne out of complaints from some quarters that Town Hall’s only current flagpole occasionally sees the Canadian flag taken down the in order to fly “community flags”— such as those for various charities and for observances
Catherine Nichols-Dickinson with her gold medal. severe osteo,” she said. Last year, she skipped the tournament as she tended to her ailing cat. Yet amidst dealing with her in-
such as LGBTQ Pride Month. The committee briefly discussed going in the opposite direction with a strict one-flag rule, like one in West Lincoln that mandates only the Canadian flag be flown outside the Town Hall. Junkin warned that such a move would open the door to criticism, given the third-rail nature of the political optics. “What’s at issue is this one particular flag,” said Ward 2 Councillor John Wink, clearly referring to the gay pride rainbow flag. “These people are still part of our community and times are changing. I think we’ve got to be a little inclusive, and a little more supportive of these initiatives.” The plan would call for two more flagpoles to be added, bringing the total to
SUPPLIED PHOTO
juries and the loss of a beloved pet, she and her husband—former NFL draft pick LaVerne Dickinson, who now coaches her — devised a training strategy that would play
three. As per flag etiquette, the Canadian flag, the Ontario flag and the Town of Pelham flag would be flown, with the Pelham flag coming down and replaced periodically with a community flag when applied for and permitted. The war memorial flag at the back of Town Hall is unaffected, and would continue to fly the Canadian flag 365 days a year.
to her strengths. Racquetball often requires running and hard cutting – unless you can avoid it by catching opponents off-guard with tracer-like serves. “I perfected my serves, and they really are bullets. It minimizes running,” she said. “[In one match] I served six bullets serves and got six aces, [my opponent] wasn’t able to get near them … it sounds corny, but I think it’s miraculous really.” Miracles aren’t easy, however. “I went back to the hotel every night and I had to ice my knees, they were blowing up like balloons,” she said.
Gypsy moths
The committee also voted to push back the public meeting regarding gypsy moths to Oct. 23 at 6:30 PM from Oct. 15. The meeting had to be moved to a larger room at the community centre because of space concerns. “We’re gonna get a lot more than 60 people out,” Junkin said. Earlier in council, Ciol-
See CHAMP Page 16
fi was insistent that a request for proposal (RFP) be done regarding contracting for next year’s gypsy moth control program. Cribbs assured him that is always the protocol the Town follows, unless in the event of an emergency. Ciolfi has been pointedly critical of this year’s gypsy moth program, overseen by contractor Trees Unlimited.
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The Voice, September 11, 2019
AGE
Just reading this article brought so many emotions and heartfelt agony to so many women. I was a patient from 1974 until December 2000. There were so many times I felt uncomfortable with the sexual innuendo and subtle sexual advances that it was hard to pinpoint at times. Like so many others, the same tactics were used to prime us. Everything from unnecessary pap smears to pressing his body against mine, to hugs, undressing, and the list goes on and on. Sometimes I left his office very disturbed and even questioning whether I was interpreting his advances wrongly. He did it with his offbeat humour to cover up. As his “grooming” progressed, I knew it was time to leave quickly when he fondled my breast while giving me a shot. It was the final straw for me, and I was advised by another doctor to call the College of Physicians and Surgeons and report all that had been done to me. I called the number given to me, and was accountable to a dear friend who made me follow up. I remember speaking to a woman by the name of Susan at CPSO, who encouraged me to seek counselling, and told me that if he did it to me, he has probably done it to other women. If there were two or more complaints lodged with CPSO they would investigate it and call me back. They encouraged me not to press charges as I would most likely not be successful and it would be very stressful. I waited many years to get a call, especially after reading all the other women who made complaints to CPSO on RateYourMD. How sad and disappointing that even this would not bring attention to the man. He took advantage of his position and title and now walks away. The only consolation we see is an article in the local news shaming the man. Shame to all who support this evil man, and my heartfelt concern to all he has impacted with his selfish actions. The incidents occurred all through my 30s until I left his practice at the age of 45.
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AGE
When I read the paper my mouth dropped. I was a patient of Duncan’s around ten years ago, when I was a young woman. He also made unprofessional comments and odd requests to do multiple physical examinations. On one occasion, I sat in the waiting room and we had to take a number. When they call your number, you go in to see the doctor. My number was 11. Dr. Duncan saw my number and said, in a provoc-
31
ative manner, “You are an 11!” He also made comments about my looks on other occasions. Every time I went to see him, for whatever reason, he would insist I needed a pap smear. I would do so, as it’s doctor’s orders, but I thought it was a little excessive. Later he told me that my tests were abnormal and I’d need more testing...all of these paps did not included a nurse in the room. I started feeling a little uneasy about going to see him, so the next time I brought my boyfriend (now husband) to come with me. Dr. Duncan seemed a little angry that I brought him, and made comments like, “You probably have HPV and watch out for genital warts.” I was horrified, and wanted to see a gynecologist for further examination. He referred me to a doctor in Welland and I was given a biopsy. The biopsy was completely clear. It makes me wonder if I had any abnormalities at all? Was he just being completely unprofessional? I changed doctors shortly after that. I’m going to contact the CPSO. I imagine more women will come forward.
AGE
Dr. Duncan opened his family practice in Fonthill when I was six years old. Our family immediately started attending his practice as patients. During my childhood years, he seemed to be a good physician, but once I hit my early teens his behaviour towards me changed. My mother felt I was old enough to see the doctor by myself and as such, any time I attended his office, it started with tickling me each time I visited. As time went on, if I went in for a sore throat, he would tell me to lay down on the examining table and would inevitably touch my breasts and finish by tickling my stomach. I recall going in because of stomach pains and he undid my pants and would want to examine my genitals because it “may be something related” to my “reproductive system.” As time proceeded, Dr. Duncan wanted to perform internal exams but, although I said nothing to anyone, it didn't feel “right.” At this point, I asked my mother if she could arrange for me to see a gynecologist for things related to the reproductive system. Although I had a gynecologist, Dr. Duncan continued to try to undo my pants every time I went in for anything from an earache to a sore throat to a rash, etc. Finally, I told my mother in my 20s that I was looking for a new doctor because Dr. Duncan made me feel very uncomfortable. She was surprised that I felt that way but didn't question my choice.
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www.thevoiceofpelham.ca
the
t
BY DAVE
The V
I
N LAST WEEK’S EDITION, the Voice published the account of a woman formerly employed by Dr. Charles Duncan, a family practitioner in Fonthill. The woman asserted that she was twice sexually assaulted by Duncan in 2009, and filed a report with the Niagara Regional Police Service at the time. This past March, a decade later, she was contacted by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario in connection with an internal CPSO investigation of Duncan. Neither she nor the Voice know what prompted the CPSO to act, but the result was that Duncan agreed to quit practicing medicine as of October 31, and never to apply again to practice anywhere in Canada.
The Voice informed Duncan's office staff—by telephone, in had received these accounts from his former patients, and re time. The Voice has not verified whether these recollections been charged with a sexual crime, nor is
After leaving his practice, it became clear to me that what he had been doing to me for so many years was completely wrong on every level. I chose to remain quiet for the same reasons many people do...we are taught to believe that our physicians are good people, to be trusted and not questioned. In retrospect, had I reported his unethical practices, perhaps others could have avoided experiencing the same shameful feelings that I did. He truly isn't having to pay for anything he did to any of us.
AGE
It was 42 years ago. I was 14 when I first met Dr. Duncan. My family had recently moved to a farm in Fenwick. I developed a rash on my feet and hands and thought it may be an allergic reaction to the grasses in the fields. I went to see Dr. Duncan. He told me he would need to perform a physical,
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I told him I did not have a rash anywhere else, just on my feet and hands. I did not feel I needed a physical. He kept insisting. I told him I would go somewhere else. Dr. Duncan said he would just look at my feet. He came around his desk and looked at my feet and determined it was an allergic reaction to my new “Buffalo” sandals. He gave me a prescription for cream and that was that. He became my family’s doctor. When I started taking birth control I was told I would need to have regular physicals. During exams, no assistant would be present. He would ask me questions about my relationship with my boyfriend. Uncomfortable questions. Long breast exams. Always made me feel dirty and gross. Another time I blacked out at the top of our stairs and fell, injuring my back. Went to Dr. Duncan for my back and the resulting headaches. He asked me to bend over as far as I could. He told me he was going to have to do a physical, I said
m
www.thevoiceofpelham.ca
The Voice, September 11, 2019
em
too
E BURKET
VOICE
Following the story’s appearance, nearly 20 more women have come forward to the paper, alleging that they were the targets of unwanted and inappropriate conduct as patients of Duncan’s. They range in age from 31 to 65. Ten agreed to speak for publication. For reasons made clear by psychology professor Kathryn Belicki, in her interview appearing on page 3, none of the women wish to be named, but each wants her experience heard. The Voice knows the identities of the individuals making the comments on this page, communicating with them via email, telephone, and social media, to obtain their stories.
writing, and in person at his practice—that the newspaper equested Duncan's comment. He had not responded by press s are true. To the newspaper's knowledge, Duncan has never s he currently under police investigation.
no. This has definitely gone on for too long.
AGE
I stopped seeing him just after I left high school and went to college. He used to make a lot of jokes when I was much younger, asking if I had a boyfriend yet when I was in elementary school. There was a lot of sexual innuendoes throughout the entire time I went to him. When I was high school I got a nose ring, and when he would do a breast exam he would say I had nice breasts and ask if I planned on getting them pierced. Also when using a stethoscope, when he put his hand down my shirt, he would place his fingers on my breast and make sure a part of his hand always at some point touched them. When I left town for school, I asked for a referral to a gyno for paps and he refused, saying he preferred doing them himself.
34
After a few times of asking and having to go to him for a pap, I refused to go back because he would also make comments during the exams that made me feel very uncomfortable.
AGE
I had negative experiences with him as well and fortunately was able to find another doctor about 15 years ago because of this. I always wanted to pursue his inappropriate comments and touches but they were just on the edge of being legit and hard to prove. I am so glad this finally came to light.
50
AGE
38
My experience was very similar to a lot of women in the comments. The refusal to refer, “helping” to remove my bra to check for lumps every time I was there, not using
gloves, etc. He was my doctor from birth until I was 23 years old. My first pap test he grabbed both my butt cheeks and pulled me down to the bottom of the exam table because I wasn’t moving fast enough. He always refused to send me to a gyno because I was “healthy.” After one too many exams that didn't feel right I left him for a new doctor. I'm angry and sickened that I never spoke up. Now it is too late. I would sit in the waiting room wondering, each time a woman came out of there, are things happening to them too? And none of them ever looked upset or anything. So I thought maybe it was me. You know what I mean? I was overreacting. This is my husband's family doctor. So I didn't want to make waves. The last time I saw him was in April.
Page 13
my throat and breasts have to be connected here,” but it took me, honestly, years to actually clue into what he was doing. It's funny because I talked to a friend this morning who had issues with him and she said, "Do you know what? He checked my breasts every time I walked into the office, but he hasn't for the past couple of years." I said, "Let me tell you why. You hit menopause and they're no
AGE
55
AGE
He started as my doctor when I was in elementary school. It seemed like every single time I needed to go in there, no matter what the reason was, he felt I needed to have a pap done. He would say that I had nice breasts. I made the choice to stop seeing him when I kind of put two and two together, between 16 and 19. I just did walk-in clinics probably for four or five years after that, until I found a new doctor about 15 years ago.
40
AGE
I had made a police report on him years before that young lady did. How come if the police had this information, they didn't deal with it? There's quite a few of us that I know of who left Duncan's office because of abuse with him as patients. I came home and said something to my daughter, who was in her 20s. I was in my 40s, and she said, "Mom, he's been doing that to me," and it was like, "Oh my god." After this story came out, now she's like, "Yeah, I would talk to the newspaper, but I don't want my name public," and everybody feels that way. For five years after my divorce, every time he walked into the room, he would say to me, "So are you with anybody yet?" It didn't even dawn on me that that was his question as to whether or not he should continue mauling and doing stuff that was not really appropriate at the time. It was his, "Yeah, if she's not with anybody, I can be touching her and she's not really going to say anything." I'd go in for a sore throat and he'd have to check my boobs. It was like, “Excuse me? I'm not sure why
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The judgment put on a female who has been sexually abused puts a cloud on her character eternally
longer hard and perky." After I left his office, I've been pretty verbal about what happened with me. I was interviewed by [a doctor not practicing in Pelham] as a new patient, he asked me why I was leaving Duncan and as soon as I told him why, he said, "I won't take you as a patient." It's the old boys club. I even talked to my pharmacist. I said, "You need to know so if another female comes in, you need to tell her to go and make a police report because I've done it. If we start, the cops are going to figure out that there's a pattern here." I didn’t want to press charges because I knew what would happen. If they had come back to me and said, "We do have a pattern of behavior, ma'am. Can we talk again?" I would have totally been all over it. My daughter, even now she won't go public with it, because no matter how you look at it, the judgment on a female who has been sexually abused puts a cloud on her character eternally. The last time I saw him I needed a prescription. He looked up how long it had been since I’d had a mammogram, which was three years, so I said, “Then I need a referral for a mammogram.” He said, “Get up on the table,” and I said, “No, we're not doing that anymore.” He grabbed the prescription out of my hand and tore it in half. I never returned and I didn't even ask for my records. He was disrespectful, had been constantly mauling me, and he was the abuse partner. In order to get my records, I would have to buy them off of him. You couldn't get your records without paying them $25 to move them to a new doctor, and I was going to pay the man so that I could move away from his abuse? Not happening. ♦
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LACKING
continued from Page 7 shown us) that the potential zone of influence can extend a kilometer or more, and site-specific details should always be considered when making planning decisions. The point being is that setbacks should not be used in isolation, but rather combined with compliance targets. A 150- or 300-metre setback might be perfectly acceptable— providing the odour mitigation system reduces the off-property impact to a level that can’t be detected (smelled). A cannabis facility may opt for a site close to town, recognizing that more odour controls will be needed, or locate away from town, with fewer odour controls, but in both instances the off-property impact must be controlled to the same standard. Recognizing that the proposed Official Plan amendment and by-
The Voice, September 11, 2019 laws are still in draft, there is time to strengthen the wording and provide a very effective tool for managing odours from cannabis facilities. For example, instead of simply requiring odour and light mitigation systems, mandate that a cannabis facility must install and operate odour and light mitigation systems that reduce the off-property impact at sensitive receptors to a level of trivial impact (i.e., no adverse effect; below detection). If this condition is included, a standard is established, and ongoing compliance can be evaluated by conducting neighbourhood odour studies. Regarding ongoing compliance, instead of simply requiring cannabis operators to have an odour monitoring plan, the Town could strengthen the wording and require operators to submit an odour monitoring plan that the Town could peer review and assess for adequacy based on site specific conditions,
such as proximity to residents. The plan could and should include ongoing neighbourhood odour monitoring, conducted by a trained and qualified independent third party, at the operator’s expense, where testing is conducted routinely and unannounced, and where results are simultaneously posted to the Town’s and the operator’s website. In the event of high odour results, the operator would be required to notify the Town of its corrective action plan, including timelines. These are examples of requirements that could be incorporated into the drafts that would provide more clarity, help define minimum standards to prevent adverse effects, and help protect residents. I highlighted a few, but there are more that should be reviewed before the bylaws are presented to council. I hope the Town will consider strengthening the drafts so that Pelham residents are better protect-
www.thevoiceofpelham.ca ed, and so that cannabis facilities can co-exist. The goal is not to shut out cannabis and other industries, but rather to define the standards that must be met—this provides business certainty. Niagara-on-the-Lake recently approved a one-year extension of their interim control bylaw prohibiting new cannabis operations and expansion of existing facilities. Perhaps Pelham should consider the same so that necessary work can be completed on our bylaws. A public meeting was to be held on Tuesday, and on September 23 Town Council is expected to vote to either adopt the staff-proposed bylaws and Official Plan amendment, or the Cannabis Control Committee’s request to extend the Interim Control By-Law (ICBL) by one year. Check the Town’s website for meeting details and voice your opinion. Phil Girard, P.Eng. Pelham
FAITH LIFT
continued from Page 21 “Who is Jesus?,” “Why did Jesus die?,” “How does God guide us?,” “Who is the Holy Spirit?,” “How can I have faith?,” and “How can I make the most of the rest of my life?” Good questions, all. One feature of Alpha (the Greek letter for “A”) is that it usually begins with a meal hosted by the local church or sponsoring group. During the meal, friendships are formed and a relaxed atmosphere is established which prepares the people for the video and informal discussion to follow. It take about three months to complete at the usual rate of one session per week. There are 12 Alpha courses being offered this fall in the Niagara region. Check out the Alpha website at www.alphacanada.org to learn more.
Christianity Explored
with CASH BAR
This Christian introductory course is more recent and also began in an Anglican church in London, England in 2001. I’m not an Anglican but I can truly say, “Thank God for the Anglicans!” Its founder and speaker is Rico Tice (yep, that’s his name). It’s already being used in over 50 countries in various languages and denominations. One attendee commented, “It opened my eyes to who Jesus was, and why he came.” This one is distinctive in that it is based on one of the four Gospels —Mark. This Gospel answers two main questions—“Who is Jesus?” (first half of the Gospel) and “What does it mean to follow Jesus?” (second half of the Gospel). Topics include Good News, Identity, Sin, the Cross, Resurrection, Grace, and “Come and Die.” With seven sessions (one per week) it takes seven weeks or about two months to complete, so it’s shorter than “Alpha.” Like Alpha, sessions usually begin with food, followed by a video (shorter than Alpha) and a discussion time. For more information on this course, check out the website www.christianityexplored.org. There are six courses being offered in this region. The closest begins at the Pelham Library this evening, Wednesday, Sept. 11, at 7 PM. Both courses are helpful for people checking out the faith for the first time and asking the big questions of life. But they are also useful for those who are already believers but want a refresher course on the basics of their faith. Both provide safe places to ask all kinds of questions including voicing honest doubts. And in the process new friendships are made. C.S. Lewis once said, “Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.” Another good reason for checking it out for yourself. Rob Weatherby served congregations in Nova Scotia and Ontario over the last 40 years.
www.thevoiceofpelham.ca “I became a good pitcher when I stopped trying to make them miss the ball and started trying to make them hit it.”
Sandy Koufax
The Voice, September 11, 2019
Page 15
Sporting Green The Niagara
Rowers headed for St. Catharines 23 World racquetball champ is local 11
The Voice and TheVoiceofPelham.ca | September 11, 2019 |
Perseverance pays o� for IceDogs rookie Campbell overcomes two shoulder injuries BY BILL POTRECZ
BPSPORTSNIAGARA.COM
It would have been easy for Ryan Campbell to give up on his dream of playing in the Ontario Hockey League. The 18-year-old centre has already faced two serious shoulder injuries —the first wiped out his 16-year-old season and the second prevented him from attending OHL camp — but he remained committed to cracking the lineup with the Niagara IceDogs. Campbell, who was a sixth-round pick (116th overall) in the 2017 OHL Priority Selection, finally had a chance to come to camp healthy this season and give the IceDogs a chance to see him perform. “My first goal all sum-
mer was just to be healthy and when I came into camp and was able to play it felt really good,” said the native of Plattsville, near Cambridge. Campbell, a natural centre, who collected 16 points with the Kitchener Dutchmen of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League last season, was so impressive in camp he was signed to a deal. “He’s a guy who’s been very focused on trying to make this team,” IceDogs coach Billy Burke said. “Since he was drafted — he was highly touted at the start of his draft year — he battled injuries and it’s been discouraging for him. Now he’s healthy and he’s
The persevering Ryan Campbell. able to show us what we thought he was.” Burke said Campbell’s attention to detail stood out. “He was very consistent. Even in training
camp sometimes you have to look and see if a guy’s game will translate. Just because someone scores the most goals in the inter-squad games doesn’t mean he will be able to be
a scorer. “He has a good hockey IQ and he did a lot of little things that would translate to help him be a regular on our team.” Campbell chalked up his
BILL POTRECZ PHOTO
hockey smarts to his love of the game. “I’ve always been kind of a nerd when it comes to hockey,” he said. “At home See ROOKIE Page 23
Tall order fullfilled: Funding finalized for 2021 Canada Games Feds contribute final $29 million to $105 million budget BY BERNIE PUCHALSKI
BPSPORTSNIAGARA.COM
Against the backdrop of a bevy of buff Brock University athletes baking in the late-morning sun at the Welland International Flatwater Centre Thursday — how is that for alliteration? — the final piece of funding was announced for the 2021 Canada Summer Games. On hand to make the announcement of the last $29 million in funding was François-Philippe Champagne, the federal Minister of Infrastructure and Communities. As befitting an announcement of this magnitude, countless local and federal politicians were on hand to give their two cents in a rah-rah speechfest that lasted about an hour and sent some reporters scurrying to find shade before they melted. “Strategic investments in public infrastructure, such as sport and recreation centres, help to build vibrant and active communities, and create economic growth,” Champagne said. “The Government of Canada heard the call from the municipal governments in Niagara and is always prepared to invest in our communities and young people. See BUFFED Page 23
François-Philippe Champagne, the federal minister of infrastructure and communities, announces $29 million in funding for the Canada Games 2021 Thursday at the Welland International Flatwater Centre. BERNIE PUCHALSKI PHOTO
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The Voice, September 11, 2019
www.thevoiceofpelham.ca
Radios already put to use
ANOTHER ROUND
by John Piccolo
continued from Page 2
Problems achieving liftoff?
I
N MY MANY YEARS OF TEACHING golf, topping the golf ball, or not being able to get it airborne off of the ground, has to be the recreational player’s biggest complaint. It is what keeps many people from playing at all, and many marginal players from playing more. The simplest cure for this affliction is to use a tee or fluff the ball up. Let’s discuss a little further. The most common cause of not getting a golf ball into the air is trying too hard to get a golf ball into the air. Many players have a misguided notion they need to get under the ball in order to get it up—thinking the divot the pros take starts behind the ball, allowing them to kind of scoop under it. This is a false impression. The pros position the ball so they catch it just before the club bottoms out. The clean contact allows the physics of the relationship to take over and up, up, and away goes the ball. The slower the swing the more loft you need to make this equation happen. I could go on in much greater detail about this issue but I won’t. Here’s why. The vast majority of students who have done much reading on the golf swing or watch the golf channel don’t really comprehend the information. Trying to give intimate detail about how to swing a golf club is difficult and mostly unnecessary. There are quite a few reasons someone may be topping shots. There are many physical and mental differences between people. If I see the swing and ask a few questions, I can very quickly prescribe the proper medicine. General advice in print or on television can lead to people applying the right cure to the
wrong ailment or vice versa. This can make things confusing and frustrating. Something that can be explained in minutes face-to-face can easily be misunderstood when there is no opportunity for back-and-forth conversation.
Place the ball just where the club begins to brush the turf and let the magic happen
Absolutely the best way to get better quickly is to take a few lessons from a good instructor (ask around). Golf can be expensive, but if you are able to afford to play you can afford a couple of lessons. A good instructor will actually save you thousands of dollars in grief. If you are not willing or able to take lessons and still wish to play the game without committing three or four of the seven deadly sins with each outing, here is some general advice for all ailments. Loosen up and shorten up. Take up yoga, transcendental meditation, whatever. We now live in a country where “God’s Painkiller” is legal and a province where you can by booze at 9 AM. Whatever it takes to get the feel-
ing of swinging the golf club freely. Being rigid and keeping things “straight” are swing killers. Next, do less. Shorten and power down your swing until you can consistently repeat it. As you achieve some success you can work your way up the longer and speedier path. Never ditch the loose, though. As soon as you feel yourself getting tight you have to back off. Find a length and speed of swing that you can repeat. It has to at least brush the grass. Place the ball just where the club begins to brush the turf and let the magic happen. Using a tee raised an inch or so (not too high or you will ingrain an upswing) will help to get you started. Taking practice swings, and hitting shots in longer, fluffier, grass also helps to get the feel of swinging through instead of under, and will build confidence. Golf advice in media should have to follow the rules of the pharmaceutical industry. You get to promote all of the great things your “wonder drug” will accomplish, but you also have to mention the possible side-effects. “This golf advice may help to improve your golf game. It may, however, also cause dizziness, nausea, and conniptions. Also, if your erection lasts more than four hours, seek immediate medical attention.” Actually if golf advice gives you a four-hour erection, you should likely seek immediate psychiatric attention. ♦ John Piccolo is a golf instructor and runs Piccolo’s Custom Golf Shop at Eagle Valley Golf Club in Niagara Falls. Email him at picgolf@vaxxine.com
Pelham Fire Chief Bob Lymburner says its success cannot be overstated. “That’s exactly why we switched,” he said. “When we attended the St. Catharines fire, we had five pieces of apparatus on scene and we were operating on a specific tactical channel. We could talk to each other without any interruptions.” With 50 portable units, 15 mobile units, and three base units, the P25 system—at a cost of $305,000 for purchase, installation, and removal of the old system—comes with a 15-year support program.
CHAMP
continued from Page 11 Making the story all the more impressive is Nichols-Dickinson’s claim that she didn’t actually play an opponent in racquetball in the two years leading up to this summer’s tournament. “I play at the [St. Catharines YMCA], but nobody else plays racquetball there,” she said. The lack of competition caused her to take up squash. While the sports look similar, there are differences—mainly that squash uses a larger racket and a smaller ball. “The women couldn’t figure where the hell I came
“To put it into context, think of it this way: give 100 firefighters a cell phone with the same number and have them try to talk to one another. That was the old system.” Lymburner says that his firefighters, made up of volunteers, operate with a greater sense of calm and increased feeling of safety with the new system. “We have something we can trust. The new council came in and made a decision as one of the first things they had to decide. They could have deferred it and we could have lost it but they didn’t and I thank them for that.”
from,” she said. “I ended up in tier-1 in two months playing at White Oaks.” Racquetball remains her first love, however. Nichols-Dickinson represented Canada at the 1987 Pan American Championships and once played on the women’s professional tour. At age 57 it may sound bold, but she says she wants to go pro again. “I’m going to try and play some of the women’s pro stops,” she said. Husband LaVerne won’t rule out her chances. “As a human being I’ve never seen anyone with as much determination,” he said.
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COLUMN SIX
continued from Page 1 ed moving, followed by my feet, followed by the sound of the laundry basket hitting the floor as I went into full-on Dirty Dancing mode (another clue). I think I used to be a pretty good dancer. I caroused downtown clubs in many cities, in several countries, going out when most people were arriving home, hitting club after bar after club. It didn’t matter what song was playing, my friend Tanja and I would go into auto-choreograph-pilot and somehow synchronize our moves as if we were in a Broadway musical, breaking out into dance like the Sharks and the Jets in West Side Story (gosh, yet another clue). (Gosh? Who says that anymore? Another clue.) Now I’m struggling to keep a beat. The mirror doesn’t lie. I awkwardly step and reach and kick and…jiggle in all the wrong places. I can’t seem to sway to the music any more, and my once fluid movements come across angular and clumsy. Now I’m losing confidence. Perhaps crowds used to part around me when I was younger, not to watch me, but to watch out for me—arms and legs flailing. Could I ever really dance? Am I creating a different history, misremembering one where I was cool and carefree? The evidence of a life
The Voice, September 11, 2019 too busy for clubbing is all around me. It’s in the laundry basket, where mounds of kids’ clothes have been building over just the last two days. It’s in the accumulation of stuff I don’t really need, begging to be dusted. It’s in the chaos of my desk, where stacks of files miraculously reorganize themselves nightly so I can’t locate them the next morning. Most importantly, it’s in my undeniable need for sleep, and my inability to function on less than eight hours of it. And let’s not forget that, given my recent discovery in the mirror, it’s best that no one sees me at a club anymore, dangerously gyrating to the beat of my own drummer. I see myself through my children’s eyes and understand the eye- roll. It’s the look I used to give my mother when she used to dance. I’m just one shimmy away from the look of admiration young people give grannies who still dance at weddings. “Look at her! She’s still got some moves, bless her geriatric little heart!” As I shuffle my feet and jerk my thumbs out to the side in an alternating sequence, à la John Travolta, Staying Alive becomes less of a song and more of a goal. I see myself clicking my dentures in and out from my lips to the beat of the music. Mrs. Doubtfire becomes my new role model. But wait. Let’s not give in just yet. I’m not old…well, not that
old. Age is a state of mind, right? I may not be club material anymore, but with a little practice, starting in the privacy of my bedroom, perhaps I could eventually move up to the kitchen, and if I find my mojo again, the living room awaits, in full view of my tortured children. The true unveiling would come after a few drinks at a Christmas party. The guests would part, creating a circle around me. I will tell myself that they are impressed by my dancing, even if they are actually protecting the Christmas tree ornaments from my step–ball–kick and protecting me, lest I get too close to the fireplace. Yes, practice may be the key. Or I could take the easy way out and just change my mindset, adopting the expression, “Dance like nobody’s watching” as my new mantra. It may not be cool, but it certainly suggests carefree…or senility, depending on the audience. I’m going to a wedding next week. Who knows, maybe the little kids will form a circle around me, chasing the strategically placed loose change that sprays from my pockets. They won’t judge me. The more spastic I get, the more money they get. It’s a winwin. Regardless of which table I’ll be seated at for the reception, it will be quite obvious come dance time that, “Nobody puts Granny in the corner.” ♦
Page 17
Thirty-five laid o≠ from Fenwick CannTrust site Cuts constitute about 20 percent of company-wide layoffs by beleaguered cannabis producer BY JOHN CHICK
Special to the VOICE
Thirty-five workers at CannTrust’s Fenwick operation were among the 180 layoffs the beleaguered cannabis producer announced late last Thursday, the company’s communications specialist Morgan Cates told the Voice. The cuts constitute about 12 percent of the workforce at the Pelham site, and 20 percent of the overall company layoffs. According to information previously provided to the Voice by Ward 1 Councillor and Cannabis Control Committee member Mike Ciolfi, only about five percent of the employees in Fenwick as of July were residents of Pelham. According to a CannTrust statement, the majority of the affected employees worked in cannabis cultivation or customer service support roles. The company stated the cuts would save about $9 million dollars. “We have made the extremely difficult decision to restructure our work-
force to reflect the current requirements of our business,” interim CEO Robert Marcovitch said. “Over the past two months, we have moved swiftly to assess and address the Health Canada report indicating areas of non-compliance in our operations. We remain fully committed to building the organization we need for future success and rebuilding the trust of all of our stakeholders.” Despite CannTrust’s corporate nosedive in the wake of the aforementioned multitude of regulatory violations, one affected individual seemed surprised by the cuts. “We were shocked, just shocked,” an unnamed employee, who was laid off from the Pelham site, told the Financial Post. “There was a reassurance from my senior manager that the company would not lay off this many people all at once. I didn’t think this was going to happen because it was business as usual at
the company, despite all the news reports about the unlicensed growing.” That may sound difficult to believe, given that less revenue has been flowing back to CannTrust since both a Health Canada and voluntary hold took tens of millions of dollars worth of product off the market, following news in June of illegal cannabis growing at the Fenwick facility. The scandal resulted in the removal of the company’s top two executives, and has erased about $500 million in CannTrust market value. As typically occurs after companies announce cost-cutting layoffs, its stock price spiked marginally in Friday trading, closing at $2.33 a share, up 13 cents from a day prior. Still, the value of the stock is down about 65 percent from where it was before the scandal began, and there has been recent market analyst speculation that it may be delisted from the New York Stock Exchange.
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The Voice, September 11, 2019
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PELHAM LIBRARY Make six cards with fall themes, learning a variety of techniques. Materials are provided. At time of registration, please enquire about tools needed. CUSTOM MILL Tues., Sept. 16 10 – 12:30. $10. Please register ahead. Visit www.pelhamPortable sawmill service. library.on.ca or call 905-892-6443 more I will come tofor your homedetails. or farm and custom mill your logs. Firewood & lumber also available. Call Rob Patterson, 905-401-4948, LIONS FISH FRY riverwood@primus.ca
FABULOUS FENWICK Tasty treats with funds heading straight back into the community. Haddock, french fries and much more. Runs Sept. 9FOR from RENT 4-7 p.m. NEW LUXURIOUS 1-BEDROOM SUITE in country home, 1,000 SALE sq. ft apt with separate entrance, in PELHAM MINOR HOCKEY EQUIPMENT suite laundry, fireplace, stainless appliances, large windows, Buy, sell or trade used country equipment Pelham settingatonthe Webber RoadArena. includesAimed utilitiesto & provide parking, back-up generator provided. Suitable for person who can cheaper options for players in this upcoming season. Runs Sept. 6 from operate lawn tractor with snow thrower attachment. $1,800 per 9-12 in the morning. month inclusive. Call 905-399-0532.
FOUND PELHAM MUDFEST Men and women will beDark back in the mud assunglasses the second onoutside the year is black prescription on run grass Haist Street home. If yours, please contact 905-892-4368. held at Bissil’s Hideaway.
NIAGARA REGIONAL EXHIBITION GARAGE SALE items. Retro table, chairs, purses, perfumeevent. bottles,It Rodeo, games and liveGarden entertainment headline this years exciting music boxes. Bone china items. Paintings, prints, crafts. Small runs from Sept. 11-14 at the Welland Fairgrounds. appliances furnitureClassifi pieces.ed 8Ads Cherry Ridge Boulevard, OCNAand Network Fenwick, September 14, 8:00–3:00. (AD CENTRAL) BIG MOVE CANCER RIDE OLD PAPERS The Big Move Cancer RideWeek is a non-competitive ride taking place on Sept. of you have old issues of and the Voice published from 1997 to 7. Proceeds for the BigDo Move stay in Niagara support the Walker Fam9 Pelham Herald 2007?September How about the (any year). We'd love to ily Cancer Centre. add them to our archive. Contact: publisher@thevoiceofpelham. ca, Or drop by our office, 1428 Pelham St., across from Posted Beamer's Hardware, Fonthill. WALKING CLUB September 5 Interested in walking in Pelham? Join them Tuesdays at the Pelham Arena Central from 9-10 am and Thursdays at Fonthill Bandshell for 9-10:30 am. There Ads information, included is no fee for this program. Region For more please contact jcook@ pelham.ca or call 905 892-2607, ext 329.
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Places of Worship and Events Bethany Christian Reformed Church 1040 Balfour St., Fenwick
First Presbyterian Church 602 Metler Rd., Fenwick
Glad Tidings Church of God 1 Pancake Lane, Fonthill
Pelham Evangelical Friends Church 940 Haist St., Fonthill
Concordia Lutheran Church 105 Welland Rd., Fonthill
Fonthill Baptist Church 1414 Pelham St., Fonthill
Holy Trinity Anglican Church 1557 Pelham Street, Fonthill
Ridgeville Bible Chapel 418 Canboro Rd., Ridgeville
Fenwick Church of Christ 765 Welland Rd., Fenwick
Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses 1369 Rice Rd., Fonthill
Kirk on the Hill Presbyterian Church 1344 Haist St., Fonthill
St. Alexander’s Roman Catholic Church 50 Pelham Town Sq., Fonthill
Fenwick United Church 1050 Church St., Fenwick
Fonthill United Church 42 Church Hill, Fonthill
Pelham Community Church (United Church of Canada) 461 Canboro Rd., Fenwick
St. Ann’s Roman Catholic Church 834 Canboro Rd., Fenwick
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The Voice, September 11, 2019
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WILLOWBROOK
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Tuesday - Saturday • 12 - 8 pm 2 Pancake Lane, Fonthill 289 897 9400
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continued from Page 1
John Langendoen spearheaded his company's donation of materials and labour to revitalize Fenwick's downtown with suitable trees and new bedding plants. MARIANNE STEWART PHOTO
“Whether it’s the Town with plantings, or the youth of Welland, a lot of employees in the past were students or young people helping to build this company,” said Chris, whose own kids now work at the nursery. “So we give back to things like the cancer society and Rose City Kids. Those are important things for us.” The customer appreciation day last Thursday was a chance to thank the local clients who have flourished alongside Willowbrook over the last four decades. “We’ve had a lot of customers with us since day one, they’ve watched us grow, we’ve got to watch them grow,” Chris said. “That’s something to celebrate.” But above all, Langendoen cites his religious conviction. “Sometimes we take a lot of credit for it, but we’re a God-fearing company and we owe all our thanks to Him for this.”
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SOLUTIONS ACROSS 1. Optics 7. Abates 13. Apricot 14. Gorilla 16. LT 17. New Yorker 19. UD 20. Lines 22. Lee 23. Sapir 25. Amos 26. Femes 28. Nice 29. Han 30. Mrs 31. Dat 33. Min 34. Lwei 36. Patina 38. Eliot 40. Pregl 41. Ranted 43. Sawn 44. RBE 45. SAG 47. RMS 48. Tab 51. Arad 53. Medea 55. Sora 56. Taros 58. Nat 59. Basal 60. ID 61. Whirligig 64. BA 65. Cornice 67. Reseals 69. Rhymes 70. Emerge
155 HWY 20 WEST
POSTURE
ANSWER: BACKPACK
SCORPIO – Oct 24/Nov 22 Scorpio, take a decisive stance on a problem that has been lingering and be confident about the choices you make; otherwise, things will just stall out indefinitely. SAGITTARIUS – Nov 23/Dec 21 Arguments can turn into bigger battles if someone doesn’t concede their position, Sagittarius. Communication is a key thing for you right now. CAPRICORN – Dec 22/Jan 20 Everything in your life seems to be going in different directions, Capricorn. Seek Pisce’s help as you figure out a way to get everything pointed in the same direction. AQUARIUS – Jan 21/Feb 18 An idea can grow into something much bigger if you just give it a chance, Aquarius. With a little nurturing, you may see your idea grow into something much bigger. PISCES – Feb 19/Mar 20 Take a step back from a problem that has been tough to solve, Pisces. There’s nothing you can do right now, so a break makes sense. FAMOUS BIRTHDAYS SEPTEMBER 8 Pink, Singer (40) SEPTEMBER 9 Michael Bublé, Singer (44) SEPTEMBER 10 Misty Copeland, Dancer (37) SEPTEMBER 11 Tyler Hoechlin, Actor (32) SEPTEMBER 12 Emmy Rossum, Actress (33) SEPTEMBER 13 Niall Horan, Singer (26) SEPTEMBER 17 Bob Loblaw, Bon Vivant (60)
ANSWER: TRUE
ARIES – Mar 21/Apr 20 Aries, it is time to take charge. Do not allow obstacles to get in the way of your grand goals. Don’t hold back at all, and attack every project with full force. TAURUS – Apr 21/May 21 Taurus, concentrate on what you already have instead of trying to attain more. When you analyze the things around you, you’ll discover you already have what you need. GEMINI – May 22/Jun 21 The more you let your emotions show this week, the more prosperous you can become, Gemini. Try new things, even if they scare you a little. CANCER – Jun 22/Jul 22 Cancer, if it seems as though people aren’t taking you as seriously as you’d like, you may have to adjust your tactics a little bit. Perhaps the delivery is just wrong. LEO – Jul 23/Aug 23 Do not turn down any opportunities that come your way, Leo. Even if they seem like they may not amount to anything, they can get you the kind of exposure that you need right now. VIRGO – Aug 24/Sept 22 Virgo, put your plans in motion and get as many helping hands as you can muster while you’re at it. This will only make the work go that much more quickly. LIBRA – Sept 23/Oct 23 Always aim for the gold, Libra. You are in a position right now where you do not have to settle for anything less than the best. Use every tool at your disposal to get what you desire.
www.thevoiceofpelham.ca
The Voice, September 11, 2019
Voice
FAITH LIFT
by Pastor Rob Weatherby
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Exploring Christianity
HY WOUL D someone want to explore Christ ianity? Well, there are actually several good reasons. One is that it reflects Canada’s spiritual heritage and used to be the majority worldview of our pioneers and nation-builders decades ago. Another reason might be to discover why it’s the world’s largest religion today with roughly 2 billion people identifying themselves as “Christians” of some variety. On a more personal level, a good reason might be a desire to become a better person. We all have hurts, habits and hang-ups in our lives that we all struggle with at times. There are countless testimonies of Christ-followers who have experienced beneficial changes in their lives (sometimes quite dramatic) which they attribute to their faith. And, finally, one might explore the Christian faith to simply decide if they think it’s true and how it might affect them not only in this life but in a possible life to come. So, if that is your desire
Page 21
the good news is there are many ways to do it. Let me recommend two.
Alpha
This introduction to Christianity had modest beginnings in an Anglican church in London, England in the 1970s. It has been described as “an opportunity to explore the meaning of life.” In 1990, under the charismatic leadership of Nicky Gumbel (yep, that’s his name), the attendance figures began to spike and it spread to other churches in England, both Anglican and non-Anglican. Then it caught on in other countries and today is being run in over 100 countries, in over
100 languages and in a wide spectrum of denominations. Not bad. More impressive than its growth has been the many testimonies of changed lives. People from different faiths and no faith were welcome to come and ask any question they wanted. One attendee said, “Alpha is where I was able to go with people from all walks of life and come together to discuss faith. We ate together, we talked together, and we learned from each other.” Pretty simple. The first session is titled “Is There More to Life than This?” Other topics in the 15 session course include, See FAITH LIFT Page 14
Here’s How It Works: Sudoku puzzles are formatted as a 9x9 grid, broken down into nine 3x3 boxes. To solve a sudoku, the numbers 1 through 9 must fill each row, column and box. Each number can appear only once in each row, column and box. You can figure out the order in which the numbers will appear by using the numeric clues already provided in the boxes. The more numbers you name, the easier it gets to solve the puzzle!
Weekly Word Search
Find the words hidden vertically, horizontally, diagonally, and backwards. APPLES AUTUMN CIDER CINNAMON COOL CRISP
CROPS EQUINOX FOOTBALL GOURDS HARVEST LEAF BLOWER
LEAVES MAZE OCTOBER PUMPKIN RAKE ROAD TRIP
SCARECROW SCARVES SCHOOL SEPTEMBER SQUIRREL TREES
ANSWERS ON PAGE 20
Page 22
The Voice, September 11, 2019
OBITUARY ROBINS, Harry On the morning of Wednesday, August 14th, 2019, Harry Albert Robins passed away suddenly and peacefully at his Fenwick residence, at the age of 87. Loving husband to Arleen, father to Glen (Ashley) and Judy, and grandfather to Eva and Lena. Born in Niagara Falls, Harry spent the majority of his life in Fenwick. He worked hard to support his family, and enjoyed classic cars in his free time. Cremation has taken place, and a memorial service will be held at the Fenwick Church of Christ (765 Welland Rd., Fenwick) on Sunday, September 15th at 2:30pm. In lieu of flowers, donations to Open Arms Mission in Welland would be appreciated by the family.
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CONVERSATION
continued from Page 3 experienced these things. We gradually began to get a better understanding of memory and when we can trust memory and what we can't trust about memory and how memory can get in trouble, and that allowed us to to be a little more realistic in recognizing the reality of abuse. So, for the last 25 years, more or less— Less. Certainly from about 2000 onwards, it seemed to me that society finally got it that lots of people have been abused. Okay, so over the last 20 years, we've had a general acceptance among professionals, among psychologists and psychiatrists, that these numbers— And on the streets. I notice people on the street are no longer surprised to hear that. But what we haven't then connected the dots to mean that there have to
be a lot of people out there doing this. And that means that probably many of us know somebody who we respect and like who has done something inappropriate. There we haven't gotten yet, and that's the final piece we need to wrap our heads around. What will it take to achieve that, do you think? Well, we're going through that now, aren't we? I mean, the Me Too movement is the start and, I think, just like we had in the ‘90s, where there was a huge war. In fact, I'm working on a book right now called Memory Wars. It became a war. It wasn't just a scientific argument. It became a very, very vicious fight. Right now, I keep sort of steeling myself, waiting for some pushback on the Me Too movement. Me Too is squarely about saying, hey, this respected person, that respected person, this other respected person, has done this. The Me Too movement is now about offenders rather than
about victims. The early ‘90s was about victims being recognized, and now the Me Too movement is about offenders being recognized. But I'm just steeling myself for, say, one high-profile, false accusation. It will just ignite, I think, a huge controversy. Well, the pushback is coming sort of through a side door, with complaints about people being overly politically correct, which itself is a horrible term. What's your take on that? Where comedians, now, are afraid to make certain jokes. The language of politically correct speech is so fraught and such a problem. It touches on many issues, right? It touches on accommodating disabilities, accommodating differences, and how do we do that. It means that the fortunate in the world have to change their ways, and then there comes the question, well, how much do we have to change our ways? This is all
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www.thevoiceofpelham.ca just society kind of working this out as we move forward and hopefully into a more mutually supportive kind of space. I heard recently a great definition of politically correct. “Politically correct” is just another way of saying, “Don’t be an asshole.” Just be cognizant of other people's sensitivities and make reasonable accommodations. That's all it takes. I think that's what we need to aim for. Yeah. I like that. I was working in a very left-leaning radio station in Berkeley in the late ‘70s. The first time I heard the term politically correct was from someone who was on the staff there, saying, "Oh, that's our problem on this side. Being leftists. We gang up our own and we have to be so much more politically correct than the other guy." It was very much—and you may remember this as well—it was much a leftwing term, a self put-down that the right-wing came along and said, "Ah, we can use this," to mean something entirely different. Then it got co-opted. Exactly. So what do you make of the psychology of people who might sit back and look at somebody like, say, Bill Cosby. How many women did it take to come forward before people stopped saying, "Oh, he's America's dad. He's such a nice guy. It's impossible to believe." I think there's a couple of things going on. One is, as I said, this sort of over-simplistic notion of who does sexual offenses and our tendency to truly demonize. I think there's that popular imagination of what a sexual abuser looks like, and they're sort of evil and icky, and so then you take that template and you apply it to this person. You go, "They're not like that." I remember, years ago, when we had a debate here around the issue of false memory and one person got up. A lot of folks came to that debate who belonged to the False Memory Syndrome Foundation, and these were parents who had been accused by the child of having been abusive. And one person stood up and said, "Look at us. Do we look like people who would offend?" And I go, "Oh my god. You're thinking that offenders somehow look really awful and are visible, nasty people." So partly there's just a misunderstanding. A tendency to want to simplify the world into there's good people and bad people and it's just not like that. We are all more complicated. That's part of the issue. Secondly, we all want the world to be sort of predictable. We want people who are competent and look good to be people we can trust, because then we can predict the world and we can keep ourselves safe. When someone you assumed you could be safe with because they're educated, because maybe they're attractive—that's been found by the way. We tend to feel more safe around attractive people than less attractive people. So these kinds of revelations shatter people's assumptions about the world in ways that are very unsettling and, hence, they want it to go away. The easy way
to make it go away is, "Oh, she's lying. He couldn't possibly have done that." Not realizing that educated people do this. Powerful people do this. Incredibly nice people, do this. Nice in other areas of their life. You mentioned power there. You do see that theme with Weinstein, and the Fox News guy, Ailes, and the rest of these folks who are in very powerful positions, who are in very senior positions, and you could certainly say the same for a doctor. Authority carries power, right? So how much of that do you think plays into sexual offending? That's just well-documented. It isn't always a feature, but that can certainly be a part of any sexual act, actually. Even within consenting couples, there can be real power dynamics play out around that. And then, of course, with powerful people, they also have built into that a certain safety net. That they know they're well respected. They know their word is likely going to be taken over the word of somebody else. And they can feel above the law. They feel unlikely to be caught. So power plays a lot of ways. Certainly power and sex can go hand-in-hand anytime, and is often a component of sexual assault and sexual abuse. Some would say it always is. I wouldn't go that far, but it certainly can be. Power comes in other ways in that it gives people certain kinds of immunity, or what they perceive as immunity, and they're more than partially right about that. These things all have to be tested on their own merits, but you don't want to be drawing conclusions based on education or appearance or position in the world. We need to figure this out so that we can even be more prepared to recognize that someone I love or admire may be an offender. And then we also need to figure out what are we going to do about this? There's a lot of offenders out there, and we're choosing not to recognize it because we don't want to recognize it, but they're there. What actually happens is we then refuse to notice that this physician we think so highly of has done this because we don't want to demonize them. I'm still a bit surprised to hear that childhood sexual interference or abuse wasn't well known back then, because I remember growing up in the ‘60s and early ‘70s, kids making nervous jokes about priests. It was known but not widely discussed. You didn't want to be in a room with a given priest...it was kind of an open secret. But I guess professionally in psychology, as you say, maybe it wasn't— Psychology and in medicine. It definitely came from the populace. It wasn't psychologists or social workers or physicians who discovered this. It was regular people finally having ways to say— other than quietly, kid-to-kid saying—"This is happening." Unfortunately all of the helping professions disappointed me in their initial response, which was to push back and to not believe it and to try and dismiss it. And then gradualSee CONVERSATION Page 24
www.thevoiceofpelham.ca
The Voice, September 11, 2019
Page 23
Worlds coming to St. Kitts Henley Island to host 2024 World Rowing Championships BY BERNIE PUCHALSKI
BPSPORTSNIAGARA.COM
There is plenty of work ahead after the City of St. Catharines, in partnership with St. Catharines World Rowing and Rowing Canada Aviron, was awarded the 2024 World Rowing Senior, Under 23 and Junior Championships. Awarded last Monday, following a vote by delegates at the FISA Congress in Austria, the championships will be well worth the effort required. “The nice thing about the championships is there are a bunch of reasons why we want to host,” said Bill Schenck, co-chair of St. Catharines World Rowing. St. Catharines previously hosted world championships in 1970 and 1999. “What we have been able to do with the championships is do major improvements to the course, or keep the course up to world standards,” he said. “It’s an opportunity to do that and when you have events such as this you can do it.” There are several improvements organizers hope to make. “The finish tower has become a focal part of any of these major championships and we are going to be redoing the finish tower,” Schenck said. “That is the one major expense.” Improvements to the docks are also high on the priority list. “As we keep moving forward and the facilities age, you saw that firsthand during Henley how the dock by the grandstand sinks in a
BUFFED
continued from Page 15 The new 2021 Canada Games facilities will leave a sporting legacy that will increase access to quality recreational infrastructure, improving the lives of Canadians across the Niagara Region for generations to come.” The total funding of $105 million for the Games is made up of: $32 million from the federal government, including $3 million from Sport Canada; $32 million from the provincial government, including $3 million from the provincial sporting agency; $20 million from the Regional Municipality of Niagara; $10 million from the City of St. Catharines; $5 million from the City of Thorold; $3.5 million in-kind services from Brock University, through the use of Brock facilities as the athletes’ village during the Games, and a $500,000 financial contribution; and $2 million from other municipalities in Niagara. A recent story in a St.
few spots,” he said. “We did some repairs on it but it is reaching the end of its life.” Other smaller improvements include new outside racking on the island to increase the capacity to 700 from 300 boats, and rebuilding the wooden aligner shack at the start area. The Canada Summer Games will see the construction of a new training centre on Henley Island and the world rowing committee will be able to build off of that. “That will be part of the experience as well,” Schenck said. There was a major dredging of the course to stage the 1999 worlds, and that work still has the course in good shape. Another reason for hosting the event is to help attract new volunteers to the sport of rowing. “As you know, volunteers are the key to any event,” Schenck said. “Canada Games is 2021 and this being 2024, St. Catharines has always stepped up when it comes to different events with volunteers and it’s an opportunity to renew or attract new people who aren’t normally involved in the events.” An 400-500 volunteers will be required to make the regatta run smoothly. A third reason for hosting the championship is that the alterations to the course aid competitors at annual events like the Royal Canadian Henley Regatta and Canadian Secondary Schools Rowing
Catharines newspaper reported that the region would be on the hook for any deficits, but Canada Games 2021 board chairman Doug Hamilton isn’t worried. “The pre-requirement of any Canada Games is that the bidding community is responsible for the bottom line,” he said. “Having said that, we are the 28th Canada Games and there has never been a deficit before.” The budget template used for Canada Games has built-in contingency funds and there often is money left over at the end. “Any Canada Game surplus stays as a legacy fund in the community,” Hamilton said. In a few regions of Canada where multi-sports events have been staged, the facilities created have suffered because there weren’t operational plans in place once the events ended. That won’t be the case in Niagara. “There is a plan being prepared,” Hamilton said. “As part of the business plan that we do for the fed-
ROOKIE
continued from Page 15 if I’m bored I’ll just go on the NHL app and watch any game, so that maybe contributed to it, and maybe it’s kind of instinctive.” Campbell said all the extra time he put in working out finally paid off. “I trained every single day, five
Competitors at this year's Royal Canadian Henley Regatta. Association championships. “They all benefit from the improvements that we put into the facility and it keeps those regattas on the forefront of some of the best regattas around.” The final reason for staging the event is to give Canada’s national team a chance to compete at home. “Similar to what happened with the Pan Ams [in 2015] and the worlds before that, they are able to compete in front of the hometown fans instead of them having to travel abroad,” Schenck said. “They get a lot better crowd and a lot better experience.” Landing the world championships was a year-long process that started with getting approval from Rowing Canada. Once that was received, the bid committee went through a lengthy application process, including a bid that took eight months to assemble. “It was a pretty detailed document that were very fortunate that we had the cooperation of the City of St. Catharines, who helped pull this whole thing together,” Schenck said. St. Catharines Mayor Walter
eral, provincial and local governments, we have to prepare a template for our legacy plan.” That plan has to be completed by next year and approved by the various levels of government. “That legacy plan talks about what happens to all of the infrastructure after the Games,” Hamilton said. “And it’s not just the infrastructure. It’s all the other programs that we will have.” Hamilton used the example of the Canada Games mascot. “Does that end up as the Niagara mascot or somewhere else?” he said. “There’s a lot of legacy pieces that come out of the Games.” Canada Games Park will be owned and operated by Thorold, St. Catharines, Niagara Region, and Brock. In anticipation of Thursday’s funding announcement, the bid committee send out tenders for the two major projects associated with the Games; the multisport facility (Canada Games Park) south of Brock
days a week alone in the gym. It sucked,” he said. Campbell, who figures to start the season as a bottom-six forward, played in the IceDogs two exhibition games last week. “It was eye-opening,” he said. “The biggest thing is just speed. It’s going to be quite a jump. “In that league [GOJHL], I was super-skilled, but for this league
Sendzik described it as a true St. Catharines team effort. “There have been a lot of people working hard to secure this bid, led by Bill Schenck, Chair of St. Catharines World Rowing,” he said. When St. Catharines first submitted its proposal, it was in competition with bids from Australia, Italy and Linz, Austria. The former two eventually bowed out leaving St. Catharines and Linz as the only two bidders. “The bid from St. Catharines was of the highest quality,” said Matt Smith, the executive director of FISA, rowing’s governing body. “We were impressed by the care and commitment we witnessed in the attribution process, and we are pleased to be looking forward to another successful World Rowing event in Canada,” Smith said. The event will feature junior, under-23 and senior rowers. The seniors will be competing in non-Olympic events. About 2,000 athletes will take part in the event. The exact dates of the regatta have yet to be determined, but Schenck expects it to be held the two weeks in August
There's a lot of legacy pieces that come out of the Games
University, and the rowing training facility on Henley Island in St. Catharines. With a price tag of $80 million, Canada Games Park will include a sports abilities centre, athletics facility, outdoor beach volleyball centre, outdoor cycling pavilion, and an environmental sustainability centre. “We tendered those two projects together and the plan is that that tender will close at the end of the month and construction would start soon afterwards,” Hamilton said. He would love to see lo-
there are guys who are more skilled than me, obviously. It’s a good friggin’ league.” Burke likened Campbell to overage forward Bradey Johnson. “It will take some time to get accustomed to the speed but he’s very smart and that goes in his favour. He’s a smart player who understands defensive positioning and can pick things up quickly and
following the Henley. As of now, Schenck has no idea what the final budget will be for the championships. Funding will come from all levels of government and sponsorships. “It is a moving target at this point in time,” Schenck said. “We are pretty confident that we will be able to reach our goals with the budgeting we would put in place.” Now that the bid has been successful, the next steps are to start putting together all the various committees that will organize the event Schenck is already looking forward to 2024. “I am excited about the whole event,” he said. “I still have great memories of 1999 and how wonderful it was when everything came together. “And as you know, I am an events person and I like to pull events together.” His excitement will build when the first race comes down the course. “If Canada is in the first race, that makes things even better,” he said.
cal companies land the major construction projects, but their proposals have to make economic sense for the Canada Games committee. “If it works out that they are local because they are the lowest price then that is great, but we are doing this in a fiscally responsible way so we will go with the lowest price.” Other infrastructure projects include the temporary installation of a modular, above ground swimming pool at Brock, that will be transferred to the Town of Lincoln and used as a community pool following the Games; upgrades to the diving and rugby facilities at Brock and the rehabilitation of a baseball diamond at George Taylor Field in St. Catharines; and upgrades to baseball and softball diamonds in Grimsby, Niagara Falls, Wainfleet, Welland and West Lincoln. About 2,100 jobs are expected to be created and supported through the Canada Games process, and the economic impact for the entire Games is projected
that’s what he’s been so impressive. “This year I look at him as a guy you can trust out there. He’s going to make the smart play and be hard to play against. He may not put up a ton of points but that’s not necessarily what we’re looking for this year.” The IceDogs play again tomorrow, Sept. 12 when they visit the
BERNIE PUCHALSKI PHOTO
to be in the neighbourhood of $400 million, Hamilton said. The next step for the host committee is to continue working on the infrastructure projects and starting to host events leading up to the Canada Games. First up is co-hosting the Canadian Olympic wrestling trials in December with the Brock Wrestling Club. In January, Canada Games representatives will start visiting local schools to spread the word about the Games and help build the excitement. The region-wide support for the Canada Games has helped dispel the notion that Niagara was the Regional Municipality of Parochialism. “I don’t think we broke down any barriers,” Hamilton said. “I had heard that there were these barriers, but when we presented the opportunity people very quickly realized that one municipality couldn’t do it by itself,” he said. “They understood it had to be a team effort and everyone worked together as a team.”
Barrie Colts to continue the exhibition season. They host the Peterborough Petes Friday, Sept. 13, at the Fleming Centre in Beamsville, and then conclude pre-season Saturday, Sept. 14 versus Peterborough in Millbrook. The IceDogs open the regular season at home next Thursday, Sept. 19, versus the Sudbury Wolves.
Page 24
The Voice, September 11, 2019
CONVERSATION
Welcome to our
Sunday Evening Music Service at Holy Trinity Anglican Church on Sunday, September 15, 6:30 PM Featuring Upbeat Music in a casual, child-friendly atmosphere
Holy Trinity
Anglican Church 1557 Pelham St.
continued from Page 22 ly... It was like people on the street got it before we got it. Thank god, so to speak, for the Catholic Church's obsession over record-keeping, because now you have all these cases, going back to the ‘60s, that were documented.
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Coming forward is one thing, proving sex crime is another "CSI effect" sees juries expecting level of evidence that's rarely available BY JOHN CHICK
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They know their word is likely going to be taken over the word of somebody else
The other thing was, we thought it was just women. We didn't take in the boys, but we still thought that it was really rare in boys. So the second kind of mini-revolution that had to happen was that it wasn’t just girls that experience this, but boys too. And then the next big thing was to recognize that women can be sexual abusers. These are still things that not everybody will accept, I think. But the knowledge is on the street. Seven sessions designed to It's just getting the people strengthen your relationship. who could do something The course helps couples to: about it to fully take that • Understand each other’s needs in. • Communicate more effectively In the most cherished • Grow closer by learning methods to resolve conflict • Recover from the ways you may have hurt each other tradition of the social sci• Recognize how your upbringing affects your relationship ences, it's time to prove (905) • Improve relationships with parents and in-laws the obvious. • Develop greater sexual intimacy 892-6881 Yeah, exactly. • Discover each other’s “love language” and much more. Well, I appreciate your LOVE PELHAM - THE MARRIAGE COURSE time. Anything I've missed here? STARTS WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 2nd for 7 Weeks @ 6:30pm Sessions are FREE, cost of materials = $55/couple Nope. I think that we've Hosted @ Pelham Friends Church, 940 Haist St., Fonthill, pelhamfriends.ca covered a lot of ground. Learn more about the course, and register @ www.themarriagecourses.ca Thanks again. themarriagecourses.ca Thank you. ♦ Learn more about the course, and register at:
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TEMPERATURES ARE FALLING
The national conversation borne out of the Me Too movement appears to be slowly moving the needle toward taking more seriously years-old allegations of sex crimes. Of course, matters vary case-by-case. Earlier this year, writer E. Jean Carroll claimed that now-U.S. President Donald Trump sexually assaulted her in the dressing room of a Manhattan department store in the mid-1990s. While it’s a prime example of leveling an accusation against someone in power—compounded by the most divisive political era in modern history— experts on the subject feel that a younger generation is refusing to allow victims to suffer in silence. “In some contexts, yes, younger women are really leading the way in terms of being more open and willing to take a risk by coming forward,” New York Times Magazine writer Emily Bazelon told PBS in June. “But … there are still women who are paying a price for being public. And this kind of public arena, where you’re in the spotlight of the national media, you have Donald Trump’s denials, that’s a powerful disincentive.” Central to the issue of sex crimes, regardless of era, is that they are difficult to prove forensically. Allegations essentially become a “he-said, she-said” battle, which, viscerally, often tends to favour the more prominent member of society. Added into the mix are unrealistic expectations when prosecutors go before juries, according to Dr. Shana Maier, a
professor of criminal justice at Widener University in Pennsylvania. “Many of the detectives I interviewed spoke of the ‘CSI effect,’” said Maier, who specializes in the criminal justice aspect of sex crimes. “The cases remain ‘he-said, she-said.’ I do not know if it impacts victims emotionally or their willingness to report. However, [police have] indicated that juries expect more. They believe that jurors are more likely to acquit even on a good case with good evidence, because it may not match what they see on TV. Law enforcement officers understand how difficult sexual assault cases are to prove forensically, and that is one of their biggest barriers.” On a judicial level, scandals such as the one involving child sex abuse inside the Catholic church have spawned some changes in many jurisdictions. On that end of the sex crimes spectrum, in 2016 Ontario passed a bill that removed limitation periods on “any misconduct of a sexual nature if, at the time of the misconduct, the person with the claim was a minor, or if there is an authority, dependence or trust relationship.” This year, New York State amended changes to its Child Victims Act, allowing survivors of child sexual abuse to file felony charges against a defendant until they turn 28 years old— up five years from the previous 23. Victims, up until they are 55, can now file civil suits against abusers.
Welland Road potholes finally filled One of Pelham's most notoriously bumpy stretches is getting some long overdue attention. The two-block stretch of Welland Road between Arbor Circle and Haist Street saw
its top six inches of pavement torn up last week in anticipation of new asphalt. Town Communications and Public Relations Specialist Marc MacDonald said that repaving was to have started this Tuesday.
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